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OTIS   LIBRARY, 


NORWICH,    CONN. 


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CONNECTICUT  LITERARY    INSTITUTION. 

This  institution  is  located  in  Suffield,  one  of  the  most  beautiful  and 
healthy  towns  in  the  Connecticut  Valley,  and  is  accessible  by  railroad 
communication  from  every  part  of  the  country.  It  possesses  all  the 
facilities  of  a  first  class  New  England  Academy,  with  both  a  male  and  a 
female  department.  It  employs  six  permanent  teachers.  It  has  three 
large  and  commodious  jjublic  buildings,  designed  to  accommodate  one 
hundred  and  fifty  students,  with  rooms  and  board.  It  is  under  the  direc- 
tion of  a  board  of  trustees,  chosen  from  every  part  of  the  State.  An 
effort  is  now  being  made  to  raise  one  hundred  thousand  dollars,  partly  for 
Ijreseut  use  and  partly  as  a  permanent  fund,  twenty-seven  thousand  of 
which  has  already  been  subscribed.  It  is  the  design  of  its  trustees  and 
l^atrons  to  have  it,  and  to  keep  it,  in  the  first  class  of  institutions,  for 
fitting  young  men  for  college,  or  for  business,  and  affording  young  ladies 
all  the  fiicilitics  for  a  thorough  education,  classical,  scientific,  and  lit- 
erary. 


300 


<.: 


CELEBRATION 


OF   THE 


TOWN   OF  SUFFIELD,  CONN., 


Wednesday,  Oct.  12,  1870. 


IIARTFOKI): 
WILEY,    WATEKMAN    &    EATON,    STEAM    BOOK    AND   JOB    PIUNTEliS. 

1871. 


/ 


\ 


v5 


■•0     ■  ' 


INTRODUCTION. 


Where  are  tlie  graves  wlicrc  dead  men  slept 

Two  liundrcd  years  ago  ? 
Who  were  tlicy  who  wept 

Two  hundred  years  ago  ? 
By  other  men  who  know  not  them 
Their  lands  are  tilled,  tlieir  graves  are  filled, 
Yet  nature  then  was  just  as  gay,  and  bright  the 

sunshine  as  to-day. 

Those  who  are  familiar  with  ancient  m3^thologj  will  recollect 
the  story  of  the  good  Isis,  wlio  went  forth  wandering  and  weeping 
to  gather  up  the  parts  and  fragments  of  her  murdered  and  scat- 
tered Osiris,  fondly  yet  vainly  hoping  that  she  might  recover  and 
recombine  all  the  separate  parts,  and  once  more  view  her  husband 
in  all  his  former  proportions  and  beauty.  With  equal  assiduity 
have  a  few  citizens  of  Suffield  sought  to  gather  up  the  relics  of  the 
past,  and  place  themselves  for  the  time  amid  the  scenes  and  cir- 
cumstances in  which  our  forefathers  lived  and  died. 

We  thus  place  the  past  and  present  side  by  side,  and  are  qual- 
ified to  judge  of  the  progress  of  events,  to  sympathize  with  our 
forefathers  in  their  privations  and  labors,  and  honor  them  for 
their  deeds  of  virtue  and  valor. 

The  Two  Hundredth  Anniversary  of  the  existence  of  the 
Town  of  Sufheld,  as  a  distinct  municipal  Corporation,  occuring 
on  the  12th  of  October,  1870,  it  occurred  to  the  minds  of  a  few 
citizens  that  it  would  be  a  proper  and  worthy  time  to  celebrate 
the  event.  Accordingly,  at  the  legal  town  meeting,  lield_October 
4th,  1869,  the  subject  was  brought  before  the  |)Cople,  and  it  was 
unanimously  voted  that  the  event  be  celebrated  in  a  patriotic 
and  spirited  manner.  A  Committee  of  sixty-seven  persons  was 
appointed  to  carry  out  the  vote,  and  a  sum  not  exceeding  $1,500 
was  appropriated  for  the  purpose. 


1 


751 


This  Committee  subsequently  met  and  appointed  tlie  following 
citizens  as  an  Executive  Committee  : 

Daniel  W.  Norton,  Gad  Sheldon, 

Simon  B.  Kendall,  IIezekiaii  S.  Sheldon, 

William  L.  Loomis,  T.  IIezekiaii  Spencer, 

Henry  M,  Sykes, 

who  were  to  have  the  general  oversight  of  the  preparation  and 
carrying  5ut  of  the  design  of  the  vote,  and  it  is  due  to  their  zeal 
and  labor  that  the  occasion  was  so  fittinglj'  celebrated. 


I^JElEr.TMIN^MES. 


At  a  legal  Town  Meeting  of  the  Town  of  Suffield,  Conn., 
held  at  the  Town  Hall,  in  said  Sanield,  October  4th,  A.  D.  1869. 

On  motion  of  D.  W.  Norton,  presented  by  the  Clerk,  Wm.  L. 
Loomis,  Esq.,  viz :  That  in  view  of  the  fact  that  during  the 
year  1870  the  Anniversary  of  the  Second  Centennary  Year  from 
the  "  Grant  of  the  General  Court  at  Boston,"  and  the  first  settle- 
ment of  this  Town  occurs  ;  therefore. 

Voted,  That  this  Town  take  suitable  measures  to  observe 
and  celebrate  said  Anniversary,  during  the  year  1870,  in  an 
intelligent  and  respectable  manner,  becoming  the  age  in  which 
we  live,  and  in  a  public  manner. 

Voted,  That  a  Committee  of  sixty-seven  persons  of  this  Town 
be  appointed  to  inaugurate  and  carry  out  a  programme  for  the 
same,  in  a  becoming  manner,  for  said  Anniversary,  at  a  suitable 
time  during  the  coming  year.  And  that  said  Committee  shall 
have  the  power  and  right  to  expend  and  pay  out  such  sums  or 
parts  of  sums  of  money,  in  promoting  the  objects  of  said  Anni- 
versary, or  the  necessarj'  expenses,  as  the  Town  may  appropriate 
for  said  ol)ject. 

Voted,  That  this  Town  appropriate  a  sum  not  exceeding  fifteen 
hundred  dollars  for  said  object,  to  be  used  by  said  Committee. 

Voted,  That  the  Committee  consist  of  the  following  named 
persons,  viz :  Daniel  W.  Norton,  Col.  Simon  B.  Kendall,  Sam- 
uel Austin,  Gad  Sheldon,  Elihu  S.  Taylor,  Henry  Fuller,  Albert 
Austin,  Wm.  L.  Loomis,  Milton  Ilatheway,  Doct.  Aretus  Rising, 
Edwin  P.  Stevens,  George  Fuller,  Ilezekiah  Spencer,  Artemus 
King,  Ilenry  P.  Kent,  Byron  Loomis,  Thaddeus  IL  Spencer, 
George  A.  Douglass,  Sihis  W.  Chark,  Ilezekiah  S.  Siieldon, 
Iliram  K.  Granger,  Thomas  J.  Austin,  Alfred  Spencer,  James 
B,  Rose,  Warren  Lewis,  Nathan  Clark,  L.  Z.  Sykcs,  Julius  Har- 
raon,  Burdctt  Loomis,  L  Luther  Spencer,  Benjamin  F.  Ilastings, 


Frank  P.  Loomis,  Chas.  A.  Chapman,  Wm.  E.  Harmon,  Horace" 
K.  Ford,  EalpU  P.  Mather,  John  M.  Ilatheway,  Ilenrj  M. 
Sykes,  and  others.  And  that  said  Committee  take  measures 
necessary  to  inaugurate  said  Anniversary  in  this  town. 

The  preceding  votes  of  the  Town  of  Suffield,  relating  to  the 
celebration  and  the  appropriation  of  said  Town  for  said  Anni- 
versary, were  ratified  and  confirmed  by  a  resolution  of  the  Gen- 
eral Assembly  of  this  State,  held  at  New  Haven,  at  their  May 
Session,  1870,  which  passed  and  was  approved  June  9th,  1870. 

At  subsequent  meetings  of  said  Committee,  heretofore  named 
and  duly  organized  for  that  purpose,  they  appointed  their  Exec- 
utive and  Finance  Committees,  a  Committee  on  Invitation  and 
Reception,  a  Committee  of  Arrangements  to  procure  a  tent, 
music,  and  to  provide  for  the  collation  at  the  close  of  the  exer- 
cises in  the  church,  with  the  kind  assistance  of  the  Ladies  of  Old 
Suffield,  at  2  o'clock,  P.  M. 

The  Officers  of  the  Day  were 

PRESIDENT. 
DANIEL  W.  NORTON. 

VICE-PRESIDENTS. 

Capt.  Apollos  Phelps,  Elihu  S.  Taylok, 

Capt  Seth  King,  Albert  Austin, 

Rev.  Amos  Cobb,  Henry  Fuller, 

Hezekiaii  Spencer,  Edwin  P.  Stevens, 

Gad  Sheldon,  Artemus  King, 

Samuel  Austin,  Hiram  K.  Granger, 

Georgs  Fuller,  Warren  Lewis, 

Milton  Hatheway,  George  A.  Douglass, 

Henry  P.  Kent,  Julius  Harmon. 

CHIEF  MARSHAL. 
Col.  Simon  B.  Kendall. 

ASSISTANTS. 

F.  P.  Loomis,  John  Nooney, 

R.  A.  Loomis,  B.  F.  Territt. 


iOTO. 


^sm 


SUFFIELD,     CONN. 

Mf  the  "Grant  of  Gonerul  Court  at  Boston,  October  12th,  1G70," 
"■^  occuring  the  in-csent  year,  it  has  l)een  decided,  by  vote  of  this 
town,  to  celebrate  the  event,  and  to  circulate  the  notice  as  Avidely  as 
possible  among  the  sons  and  daughters  of  Suffield  that  have  gone  out 
from  us  and  their  descendants. 

All  such  are  cordially  invited  to  meet  with  us  here,  on  the  twelfth 
day  of  October  next,  for  a  re-union  at  that  time,  and  jiarticipate  in  the 
exercises,  with  the  assurance  of  a  hearty  welcome,  both  public  and  private. 
Every  effort  will  be  made  to  make  the  occasion  interesting  and  profitaljle, 
and  the  stay  of  our  guests  agrecaljle;  and  it  is  hoped  that  the  gathering 
of  those  who  have  wandered  so  far  away  from  us,  and  have  been  so  long 
separated,  will  warm  the  heart  and  rpiickcn  the  feeling  of  common  inter- 
est and  union. 

WM.  L.  LOOMIS,  ^ 

SIMON  B.  KENDALL,  | 

ALBERT  AUSTIN,  I    Committee 

TIIADDEUS  H.  SPENCER,  \         on 
GAD  SHELDON,  I  i,,UMiom. 

THOMAS  J.  AUSTIN,  \ 

ELIHU  S.  TAYLOR,  J 

Suffield^  Conn.,  Sept.  12,  1870. 


1751 


^<ytii 


.^^"k'^o-    .-.'*«;■  m^^^^^^^ 


OJ  K^^ 


(j^^^  OF  THE  "^   ''^/M- 

#'Town  o£  Suffield,\ 

^A^^ednescLay,  October  latli,  1870. 

1.  Forty  ouns  will  be  tired  und  the  l^ells  of  the  several  eluirches  runt;-  at 

sunrise. 

2.  Tlie  procession  will  ionn  on  the  East  side  of  the  Park,  the  rii;'ht  of  line 

in  front  of  Knox's  Hotel,  at  0  oY'loek  A.  M.,  und  march  arouml  the 
I'ark  to  the  Chureh  in  the  following  order: 

Drum  Corps. 
Bpccial'JPolice. 
Tuivii  Authorities. 
Committee  of  Arrangements. 
Trustees  and  Teachers  of  the  Connecticut  Literary  Institu- 
tion, and  Teachers  of  Puhlic  Schools. 
Colt's  Band. 
President  and  Vice-Presidents  of  the  Day. 
Reverend  Clergy. 
Orator  and  Poet  of  the  Day. 
Governor  and  Btajf  of  the  State,  and  E,v-Goj'ernors  of 
the  State. 
Mayor  and  Aldermen  from  Springfield,  Mass. 
Citizens  from  other  Towns. 
Citizens  of  tJiis  Town. 

3.  Exercises  at  the  First  Cong.  Churcli  at  10  o'clock  A.  IVF. 

4.  Collation  at  the  tent,  on  the  Park,  at  3  o'clock  P.  ]\I. 

5.  Re  union  at  Second  Baptist  Church,  at  7  o'clock  P.  ]\I.     There  will  be 

Vocal  and  Instrumental  Music. 

Col.  S.  B.  KE\DAI^L,  Chiel'  ITIai>lial. 

^ cry 


Jgf  A  special  train  from  Hartford  to  Suflield,  (the  first  on  the  Hrancli  Ifoiul),   will 
leave  Hartford  at  7:15  A.  M.,  on  Wednesday,  October  1:^. 

T  2 


AL  CJB. 


18T0.  ^1 


Wednesday;,  OctabDi:  12,  1870. 


I. 

VOLUNTARY  ON  THE  ORGAN. 

ir. 

SINGING  BY  THE  CHOIR. 

III. 

STATEMENT  BY  THE  PRESIDENT,  D.  W.  NORTON,  Esq. 

IV. 
INVOCATION  BY  REV.  JOEL  MANN. 
V. 
READING  THE  HOLY  SCRIPTURES,  BY  REV.  D.  IVES.  D. 

VI. 
PRATER,  liY  REV.  D.  IVES,  D.  D. 

VII. 
ORIGINAL  HYMN,  BY  THE  CHOIR. 

VIII. 
ADDRESS  OF  WELCOME,  BY  REV.  WALTER  BARTON. 

IX. 
RESPONSE  BY  S.  A.  LANE,  Esq  ,  OF  AKRON.  OHIO. 

X. 

ODE,  BY  THE  CHOIR. 

XI. 

ADDRESS,  BY  REV.  J.  L.  HODGE,  D.  D. 

XII. 

SINGING,  BY  THE  CHOIR. 

XIII. 

HISTORICAL  ADDRESS,  I5Y  JOHN  LEWIS,  Esq. 

XIV. 

MUSIC,  BY  THE  BAND. 

XV. 

POEM,  BY  REV.  S.  D.  PHELPS,  D.  D. 

XVI. 

ANTHEM,  BY  THE  CHOIR. 

XVII. 

BENEDICTION,  P.Y  REV.  STEPHEN  HARRIS. 


D. 


^^x 


(^) 


^^Z^<^    i/rz^6 


^^&i>?T^^/l/^-  '':^/^Z^'^6^^^^^Z^^y^ 


A 


STATEMENT 

AT    THE 

|ii-€'entfnnial  (f  clfbratioii  of  tljc  Coluii  of  ^uffiflt), 

OCTOBER  12TIT,  1870, 
BY  THE  PRESIDENT,  D.  W.  NORTON. 


Ladies  axd  Gentlemen  : 

Two  Imndred  and  fifty  years  ago  the  6tli  day  of  last  month, 
our  Pilgrim  forefathers  took  tlieir  final  departure  from  England 
for  America  in  the  Mayflower,  a  vessel  of  one  hundred  and 
eighty  tons.  The  whole  number  who  embarked  were  one  hun- 
dred and  one  persons.  Their  Eeverend  Pastor,  on  his  knees 
commending  them  in  fervent  prayer  unto  the  Lord,  intended  to 
implore  a  blessing  from  Heaven  upon  the  hazardous  enterprise. 
He  preached  a  sermon  to  them  from  Ezra,  8 :  2L  With  mutual 
embraces  and  many  tears  they  took  leave  of  one  another,  which 
proved  to  be  the  last  leave  to  many  of  them.  The  wind  being 
fair  they  went  on  board,  but  the  tide,  which  stays  for  no  man, 
called  them  away  out  of  the  harbor.  After  they  had  enjoyed 
fair  winds  for  a  season  they  met  many  contrary  winds  and  fierce 
storms.  Their  sliip  was  shaken  and  her  upper  works  very  leak}-. 
One  of  the  main  l)eams  of  the  mid-ship  bowed  and  cracked— 
this  was  repaired  ;  tliey  resolved  to  hold  on  their  voyage. 

And  so  after  many  boisterous  storms,  in  which  they  could 
bear  no  sail,  they  fell  in  with  land  called  Cape  Cod,  in  November, 
1620.  After  touching  at  several  points  on  the  shore  in  a  storm 
of  snow  and  rain,  the  sea  very  rough,  they  broke  their  rudder, 
which  was  supplied  by  two  men  with  a  couple  of  oars.  The 
storm  increasing  as  night  came  on,  they  broke  their  mast  in  three 
pieces,  and  their  sails  fell  overboard  into  a  grown  sea.     Like  to 


14 

have  been  cast  away,  yet  by  God's  mercy  they  recovered  them- 
selves ;  ami  having  the  flood  tide  with  them,  struck  into  the  har- 
bor and  got  under  the  lee  of  a  small  island,  (Clark's  Island,) 
finally  landed  on  Forefathers'  Rock  at  Plymouth,  December  11, 
1620,  0.  S. ;  the  dense  forest  before  them  filled  with  Indians  and 
wild  beasts  and  the  stormy  ocean  behind  them,  witliout  a  shel- 
ter, winter  setting  in. 

The  settlement  was  immediately  begun  by  building  houses. 
Their  work  went  on  slowly.  Cold  weather,  snow  and  rain  hin- 
dered them,  subjecting  them  to  great  sufferings.  Sickness 
diminished  their  numbers,  and  a  fire  consumed  their  storehouse. 
By  March,  1621,  only  fifty-five  remained  of  their  whole  number, 
yet  they  were  not  discouraged. 

On  the  16th  of  March  an  Indian  walked  into  town  and  saluted 
them  in  broken  English  with  the  exclamation,  "  welcome  Eng- 
lishman." His  name  was  Samoset,  a  Sagamore  of  Monhegan  in 
Maine.  He  had  learned  some  English  by  intercourse  with  fishing- 
vessels  and  traders  on  the  coast.  The  settlers  now  learned  that 
Massasoit,  the  great  sachem  in  the  country,  was  near  wuth  a  train 
of  sixty  men.  His  visit  was  friendly,  and  a  treaty  was  made 
which  was  observed  inviolate  for  half  a  century. 

A  settlement  was  made  in  Weymouth  in  1622.  Other  emi- 
grants came  over  from  time  to  time,  and  settled  in  Charlestown, 
Eoxbury,  Salem,  Dorchester,  Ipswich  and  Newbury.  In- Sep- 
tember, 1630,  the  foundation  of  Boston  was  laid.  At  a  later 
period  some  of  these  settlers  found  their  way  through  the  wilder- 
ness, over  hill  and  dale,  mountain  and  stream,  to  the  beautiful 
valley  of  the  Connecticut,  and  removed  their  families  thither; 
commenced  their  settlements  in  some  of  the  river  towns  above 
and  below  us,  as  Springfield,  Hadlej^,  Hatfield,  Wethersfield, 
Windsor  and  Hartford  ;  what  was  then  called  Stony-brook,  (now 
Suffield,)  being  avoided  on  account  of  the  very  heavy  timber 
growing  upon  her  soil ;  being  a  dense  forest  or  "a  very  w^oody 
place.'' 

This  township  was  purchased  of  two  Indian  Sachems  for  £30^ 
and  in  1670  was  granted  to  Major  John  Pynchon  and  others  by 
the  General  Court  of  ]\lassachusctts. 

Suffield  is  situated  on  an  elevation  of  sandstone,  which  divides 
the  lower  valley  of  the  Connecticut  into  an  upper  and   lower 


•  15 

bnsiii.  Tliis  elevation  deprives  Safliekl  of  the  alluvial  interval 
lands  found  in  those  towns  above  and  below  us. 

In  A})ril,  1670,  a  petition  from  sundry  of  the  inhabitants  of 
the  town  of  Springfield  was  presented  to  the  General  Court  at 
Boston,  praying  for  a  grant  for  a  township  at  Stony-brook  or 
Southfield,  as  this  place  was  then  ealled,  (now  Suffield).  That 
petition  was  referred  to  a  proper  committee,  who  iu  due  time 
made  a  favorable  report  to  the  General  Court;  and  two  hundred 
years  ago  to-day,  the  grant  was  passed  by  the  General  Court  at 
Boston  for  a  township  at  Stony-brook  plantation,  so  ealled. 

The  settlement  of  the  town  commenced  that  year,  (1070). 

Two  brothers  by  the  name  of  Uarmons  came  here  and  settled 
about  one  mile  west  of  High  Street,  what  is  now  on  or  near  the 
road  leading  from  said  High  Street  to  West  Suffield.  Others 
soon  followed ;  so  that  when  the  town  was  organized  at  its  first 
general  Town  Meeting,  held  on  the  9th  of  March,  1681-2,  which 
was  convened  in  accordance  with  an  order  of  the  General  Court, 
passed  at  their  session  held  October  12th,  1681,  to  organize  the 
town,  when  about  eighty  proprietors  were  present  to  make  choice 
of  the  municipal  officers  and  discharge  the  committee,  they  being 
present,  who  had  managed  the  affairs  of  the  town  from  the  time 
of  the  grant  in  1670. 

liut  our  orators  and  poets  on  this  occasion  will  give  you  a 
good  account  of  the  results  of  that  beginning  made  here  two 
hundred  years  ago. 

May  this  day,  by  the  blessing  of  God,  prove  to  be  one  of  the 
best  days  ever  witnessed  by  the  sons  and  daug] iters  of  Old  Siijjlehl 
and  their  descendants;  and  may  it  long  be  remembered  by  the 
generations  who  succeed  us;  and  will  they  celebrate  the  occasion 
at  the  end  of  each  succeeding  one  hundred  years  ? 

Following  this,  an  Invocation  by  the  Eev.  Joel  Mann,  and 
reading  of  the  Scriptures,  by  the  Rev.  Dwiglit  Ives,  D.  D., 
selections  from  the  first  chapter  of  John  and  the  eleventh  of 
Hebrews;  followed  by  Prayer  by  the  same  "gentleman.  Then 
an  original  hymn  was  sung  by  the  choir,  entitled  "Two  Hun- 
dred Years  Ago." 


TWO  HUNDRED  YEARS. 

Composed  for  the  occasion  by  Rev.  S.  D.  Pueli's,  D.  D. 


Where  now  a  joyous  throng  we  stand, 

And  beauties  round  us  glow, 
Stood  a  dense  forest  wihl  and  grand, 

Two  hundred  years  ago. 
How  vast  tlie  change,  from  old  to  new 

'T would  strike  the  fathers  dumb  ; 
But  Avhat  shall  fill  the  children's  view 

Two  hundred  years  to  come  ? 


II. 


What  struggles,  perils,  toils  and  fears 

They  had  to  brave  and  know, 
Ere  comforts  blessed  the  pioneers, 

Two  hundred  years  ago. 
For  varied  luxuries  we  possess. 

They  had  no  thought  or  room ; 
But  what  they'll  have,  O  who  can  guess. 

Two  hundred  years  to  come  ? 


III. 


The  dwelling,  dress  and  style  of  yore 

Were  plain  and  free  from  show ; 
They  spun  and  wove  the  things  they  wore 

Two  hundred  years  ago. 
If  tlasli  and  fashion  rule  the  age. 

And  mark  our  progress  some. 
Pray,  what  shall  be  the  rush  and  rage 

Two  hundred  years  to  come  ? 

3 


18 

IV. 

Tlie  church  and  school,  so  simple  then, 

Expressed  the  heart's  outflow; 
Earnest  were  those  strong,  thoughtful  men 

Two  hundred  years  ago. 
In  grander  fane  and  temple  found, 

Reflnemeut's  richer  home, 
Th'  old  virtues  Uve—vf'iW  they  aboukd 

Two  hundred  years  to  come  ? 


V. 


Through  all  the  past,  life's  growing  tide 

Has  met  the  one  grim  foe  ; 
Old  are  the  graves  of  those  who  died 

Two  hundred  years  ago. 
We  swt'U  the  stream  whose  murmuring  rolls 

The  cadence  of  the  tomb  ; 
What  were  our  lives,  and  where  our  souls. 

Two  hundred  vears  to  come  ? 


ADDRESS  OF  WELCOME 

Bv  PtEV.  Walter  Bahtox. 


Tlic  Executive  Coininittec  have  assigned  to  inc  the  very  pleas- 
ant duty  of  giving  to  the  returning  sons  and  daughters  of  Suf- 
fiekl  a  few  words  of  welcome.  It  would  have  been  more  fittinsf, 
perhaps,  that  the  address  of  welcome  should  come  from  one  who 
had  always  been  a  resident  of  the  town.  For  however  much  I 
may  regret  the  fact,  I  must  frankly  confess  that  I  have  not  yet 
been  able  to  ascertain  whether  any  or  all  of  "  the  three  brothers," 
to  whom,  of  course,  my  pedigree  runs  back,  ever  settled  in  this 
town  or  not.  But  being,  as  I  am,  very  desirous  to  claim  some 
share  with  you  in  the  gladness  and  glory  of  this  great  celebration, 
I,  of  course,  am  bound  to  make  mj-  connection  with  you  some- 
how. Failing  to  make  any  connection  with  you  genealogically, 
1  was  able  to  iind,  on  looking  up  the  old  records,  that  I  could 
make  a  connection  with  you  geographicall}^,  on  this  wise :  Up 
to  the  year  1749,  SufReld  was  one  of  the  places  included  in 
Hampshire  County,  IVfass.  As  I  was  born  in  that  county  I  con- 
cluded not  to  search  the  records  any  further,  but  to  consider 
myself  born  in  the  same  colony  and  countj^,  in  the  same  pre- 
cinct and  on  the  same  })lantation  with  the  rest  of  you. 

To  prove  that  this  connection  is  not  a  fancied  one  merel}",  I 
may  take  the  liberty  to  say  that  l)cforc  Sudield  was  settled,  or 
soon  after,  in  order  to  keep  up  communication  with  Hartford, 
we  who  lived  at  the  upper  end  of  the  plantation,  in  what  is  now 
known  as  Iladlcy  and  Northampton,  used  to  have  our  teams 
drafted  to  repair  the  Suffield  roads.  Such  instances  are  on  record. 
Very  likely  it  was  owing  to  our  cutting  down  the  brush  and 
making  such  good  roads,  or  keeping  them  in  such  excellent  re^^ 
pair  that  you  were  first  induced  to  settle  here. 


20 

Be  that  as  it  may,  I  stand  here  to  welcome  to  the  scenes  and 
ceremonies  of  this  Bi-Centennial  occasion,  and  also  to  the  hearts 
and  homes  of  the  people,  all  former  residents  of  the  place,  and 
all  who  by  any  other  ties  of  relationship  or  friendship  are 
specially  interested  in  commemorating  Suflield's  natal  day. 

How  eminently  befitting  is  it,  in  this  busy  and  fast  age,  to 
improve  a  day  like  this  by  reviewing  the  lives  and  labors  of  the 
brave  and  good  who  have  gone  before  ns  !  We  have  so  much 
to  do,  to  care  for,  to  think,  read  and  talk  about,  in  regard  to 
what  is  going  on  in  the  wide,  wide  w^orld,  that  there  is  great 
danger  of  our  forgetting  the  past  and  what  is  due  to  it  from  the 
present. 

The  prophet  says,  "  ask  man  of  the  days  that  are  past."  This 
the  orator  of  the  day  w411  help  us  to  do ;  and  surely  his  review 
of  these  two  centuries  will  furnish  to  each  and  to  all  of  us  lessons 
for  our  study,  reflection  and  improvement  in  all  the  years  to 
come.  The  occasion  in  itself  is  fitted  to  call  forth  the  ti'uest  and 
best  sentiments  of  our  nature. 

In  ancient  times  it  was  customary  to  lead  out  the  youths  of 
royal  fixmilies  to  gaze  on  the  monuments  of  their  ancestors,  that 
they  might  thus  be  inspired  to  cultivate  their  virtues  and  emulate 
their  heroism.  A  still  higher  authority  says,  "Tell  ye  your 
children  of  it,  and  let  j^our  children  tell  their  children,  and  their 
children  another  generation."  Who  has  not  often  read  with 
deep  interest  of  the  great  gatherings  and  glad  memorial  days  of 
the  ancient  Ilebrews  ?  What  a  scene  must  it  have  been  when 
they  came  up  by  fixmilies  and  tribes  from  all  parts  of  Canaan  to 
keep  the  feasts  of  the  Lord  at  Jerusalem  !  How  well  fitted  was 
this  thrice  yearly  concourse  at  Jerusalem  to  counteract  all  the 
unsocial  tendencies  arising  from  their  separation  into  distinct 
tribes,  and  to  unite  them  all  together  as  a  nation  of  brethren  ! 

It  served  to  prevent  all  those  unpleasant  rivalries  and  jealousies 
which  in  time  might  have  ripened  into  hostilities  and  collisions 
that  would  have  rent  their  commonwealth  in  pieces.  By  being 
brought  thus  frequently  together,  the  acquaintance  of  families 
and  tribes  was  renewed,  all  feelings  of  clanish  exclusivcness  were 
repressed,  and  the  social  union  more  elfcctually  consolidated. 
Though  the  chief  design  of  these  annual  festivals  was  to  per- 
petuate the  memory  of  the  great' events  on   which   they   were 


21 

severally  founded,  other  important  en(}s  were  doubtless  designed 
and  secured  b}^  these  assemblages.  It  would  be  a  welcome  res- 
pite from  toil.  They  indulged  in  innocent  hilarity,  amusement 
and  recreation. 

I  don't  know  whether  or  not  the  boys  played  base  ball  or  the 
girls  croquet,  but  I  have  no  doubt  they  had  other  amusements 
and  recreations  as  good  or  better.  They  not  only  worshipped; 
they  feasted,  they  sang,  and  rejoiced  together  before  the  Lord. 

And  how  much  better  for  families,  churches  and  communi- 
ties now,  if  they  had  more  of  these  seasons  of  healthful  recrea- 
tion and  heartfelt  rejoicing !  Is  it  not  well  once  in  a  while  to 
forget  our  money-making  and  our  worldly  schemes,  to  forget 
also  what  particular  trade  and  tribe,  sect  and  party  we  belong 
to,  and  remember  ourselves  and  one  another  as  belonging  to  the 
great  family  of  one  common  Father  in  Heaven? 

You  gather  here  to-day,  not  merely  to  glorify  yourselves  or 
your  native  town,  although  if  you  wanted  to  play  the  fool  in  an 
apostolic  way,  you  might  even  boast  yourselves  a  little,  and  not 
be  thought  either  proud  or  vain  in  so  doing.  But  your  chief 
desire  is  rather  to  honor  yourselves  by  honoring  those  who  here, 
so  early  and  so  well,  laid  the  foundations  of  the  family,  church 
and  school,  of  intelligent  society  and  christian  civilization  for  all 
coming  time. 

Here  "  other  men  labored  and  ye  are  entered  into  their  labors." 

To  those  of  you  who  were  born  and  educated  here,  a  thousand 
liallowed  memories  will  come  thronging  back  to-day,  as  you  look 
once  more  upon  these  charming  valleys,  these  dear  old  hills,  and 
the  yet  dearer  faces  of  familiar  friends. 

You  will  clasp  each  other  by  the  hand  and  amid  smiles  and 
tears  cry  "old  Suflield  forever."  Tell  us  if  in  all  your  wander- 
ings you  have  found  another  Suflfield  yet?  Do  you  not  still 
sing,  as  you  come  back  to  the  old  homestead,  "  'Mid  pleasures 
and  palaces,"  etc.  ?  The  present  year  I  have  traveled  two  thous- 
and miles  through  the  Middle  and  Western  States,  and  last  year 
four  thousand  miles  through  the  South  and  West,  but  in  either 
journey  I  cannot  say  that  I  found  a  town  which  for  fertilitVj 
thrift  and  beauty,  for  social  and  religious  privileges  would  sui-- 
pass  your  own.  And  others  here  who  have  traveled  farther  than 
that  in  the  East  and  in  the  West  have  said  the  same.     Indeed, 


22 

you  who  have  never  left  the  old  homestead  cannot  appreciate 
the  beauty  and  the  blessing  of  a  birth-place  in  this  charming 
valley  of  the  noble  Connecticut. 

How  often  in  the  years  that  are  past  have  your  thoughts  wan- 
dered away  to  this  home  of  your  childhood  !  And  how  happy  are 
you  to  come  back  and  shake  hands  again  with  those  that  still 
remain  of  your  family  friends  and  early  companions !  IIow  it 
awakens  also  the  liveliest  emotions  of  gratitude  to  God,  who 
caused  the  lines  to  fall  to  you  in  such  pleasant  places  and  gave 
you  so  goodly  an  heritage !  '  Tis  true  you  will  look  in  vain  for 
some  who  by  reason  of  death  are  not  permitted  to  be  with  ns  on 
this  occasion.  The  names  of  many  who  once  walked  these 
streets,  worked  in  these  fields  and  worshipped  in  these  churches, 
side  by  side  with  you,  you  will  read  in  the  different  cemeteries 
of  the  town. 

But  others  have  taken  their  places,  and  though  many  of  us 
are  strangers  to  you,  and  many  of  you  are  strangers  to  us,  we 
are  all  one  in  our  sympathies  with  you  and  in  our  greeting  to 
you  on  this  memorial  day.  We  all  feci  greatly  honored  by  your 
presence  with  us,  and  we  are  all  alike  interested  to  honor  the 
memories  of  those  noble,  self-denying,  God-fearing  men  and 
women  "  who  for  the  glory  of  God  and  the  advancement  of  the 
Christian  faith,"  began  the  settlement  of  this  place  two  hundred 
years  ago. 

But  I  must  not  keep  you  longer  from  the  good  things  in  store 
for  you.  I  was  only  appointed  to  answer  3'our  rapping  at  the 
door  of  your  dear  old  home,  and  to  say  in  behalf  of  the  whole 
Suffield  family,  "glad  to  see  you,  walk  in,  take  off  your  things, 
sit  right  down  and  make  yourselves  perfectly  at  home."  As  I 
cannot  shake  hands  with  you  all  individually,  as  I  should  like 
to  do,  let  me  ask  the  resident  citizens  of  Suffield  here  present  to 
rise  up  and  allow  me  to  gather  up  all  their  hands  into  one  great 
hand  and  reach  it  out,  through  the  hand  of  this  son  of  Suflield 
from  Ohio,  to  all  our  guests  and  say,  welcome  each,  welcome  all. 


RESPONSE, 

By  vS.   A.   Lane,  Esq.,  of  Akron,  Ohio. 


Mr.  President  ;  Ladies  and  Gentlemen  : — It  is,  to  mc, 
gratifying  beyond  expression,  that  I  am  permitted  to  participate 
with  yoLi  in  celebrating  the  two  hundredth  anniversary  of  the 
settlement  of  this  my  native  town.  But  it  is  not  quite  so  "-rati- 
fying to  find  myself  the  sole  respondent  to  the  very  able  and  the 
very  cordial  address  of  welcome,  to  the  returning  wanderers 
which  has  just  been  pronounced. 

The  honored  chairman  of  j'our  committee,  in  his  kind  letter 
of  invitation,  expressed  the  desire  that  in  response  to  said  address 
I  should  give  one  of  my  familiar  talks  in  regard  to  my  recollections 
of  Suffield  when  I  was  a  boy.  To  this  I  assented  on  the  su]-»- 
position  that  there  were  to  be  several  similar  responses,  and  that 
any  formal  reply  to  the  address  would  devolve  upon  other  and 
abler  speakers  than  myself.  Indeed,  I  had  been  informed  that 
the  names  of  at  least  two  professional  "talkists  "  had  been  asso- 
ciated with  my  own  in  the  performance  of  the  pleasing  task- 
now  by  a  change  in  the  programme,  and  by  an  error  of  jud"-- 
raent  on  the  part  of  the  committee,  devolved  wholly  upon  my- 
self. Fortunately,  however,  both  for  myself  and  for  my  audi- 
tors, the  limited  space  of  time  which  I  may  occupy  will  render 
my  task  comparatively  easy,  and  the  infliction  upon  my  hearers 
correspondingly  light. 

Forty  years  ago,  Mr.  President,  I  left  you,  a  chubby,  round 
faced,  ruddy-cheeked,  dark-haired,  black-eyed,  and — if  tradition 
speaks  truly — a  tolerahhj  good  looking  boy  of  fifteen  years  of  a"-e. 
To-day  I  come  back  to  you  a  gaunt,  sallow- visnged,  grizzly- 
headed,  dim-sighted  old  man  of  fifty-live. 

Forty  years!  Along  period  of  time,  truly,  when,  with  the 
eyes  of  youth  and  hope,  gazing  forward  into  tlie  future.  But 
0,  how  short,  when  retrospectively  considered — but  the  merest 


24 

fragment  of  the  countless  cycles  that  form  the  unnumbered  cen- 
turies of  the  past ! 

Yet  as  brief  a  period  of  time  as  it  in  reality  is,  what  great  and 
important  changes  have  taken  place  within  those  forty  years ! 
Events  mightier  by  far,  and  of  vastly  greater  significance  and 
influence  upon  the  interests  of  civilization  and  human  progress, 
have  taken  place  within  that  brief  period  than,  wath  perhaj^s  a 
single  exception,  in  the  entire  one  hundred  and  sixty  years,  be- 
sides, of  the  two  centuries  whose  termination  you  now  celebrate. 

Were  it  proper  for  me  to  do  so,  in  this  connection,  time  would 
not  permit  me  to  give  even  the  briefest  history  of  all  those  great 
and  grand  events.  Among  them,  however,  I  may  pause  to  men- 
tion the  inauguration  of  the  great  and  ever  extending  system  of 
railways  which  has  wrought  such  a  revolution  in  the  modes  of 
travel  and  transportation  in  this  and  other  lands;  the  application 
of  electricity  to  the  purposes  of  telegraphic  communication,  by 
which  not  only  time  and  distance  have  been  annihilated,  both  in 
our  own  and  in  foreign  countries,  but  which,  spanning  and  fath- 
oming the  ocean,  has  drawn  the  two  great  continents  of  the  earth 
so  closely  together  that  the  mightiest  or  the  minutest  event  trans- 
piring in  any  portion  of  the  one  may  be  known,  in  detail,  through- 
out the  length  and  breadth  of  the  other  within  the  very  hour  of 
its  occurence ;  the  application  of  science  to  agricultural,  manu- 
facturing and  domestic  operations,  whereby  one  controlling  mind 
can,  with  nerves  of  steel  and  muscles  of  iron,  accomplish  vastly 
more  labor  in  a  given  time,  than  could  formerly  be  done  by  hun- 
dreds of  the  most  skillful  operatives  ;  but  towering  high  above 
them  all,  so  far  as  its  influence  upon  our  own  development  is  con- 
cerned, stands  the  gigantic  moral,  social  and  political  revolution 
by  which  four  millions  of  bondsmen  have  been  endowed  with 
all  the  attributes  of  independent  and  enfranchised  citizens. 

But,  Mr.  President,  I  may  not  enlarge  upon  these  and  kindred 
topics  so  full  of  interest  and  of  hope  to  this  and  the  other  nations 
of  the  earth,  and  will  only  say,  in  conclusion,  that  during  the 
entire  period  of  my  absence  from  Old  Suffield — whether  it  may 
seem  longer  or  shorter  to  my  hearers — my  mind  has  ever  reverted 
with  pleasure  to  the  fond  associations  of  my  boyhood,  and  my 
early  recollections  of  my  native  town.  ]n  all  my  w^anderings, 
having  visited  nearly  every  State  and  Territory  now  embraced 


25 

within  the  limits  of  the  United  States,  the  British  Possessions 
upon  the  North,  and  portions  of  Mexico  nnd  Central  America 
upon  the  South,  besides  a  number  of  prominent  Islands  of  both 
the  Atlantic  and  PaciHe  Oceans;  and  though  I  have  seen  many 
magnificent  cities  and  beautiful  towns,  and  rural  paradises  with- 
out number,  my  boyhood  recollections  of  Suffield  overshadow 
them  all  in  point  of  loveliness,  grandeur  and  sublimity.  And  I 
presume  I  but  speak  the  sentiments  of  all  present,  who,  like  me 
having  straj'cd  away  from  their  ancestral  homes  in  early  life,  are 
here  to-day  to  partici^^ate  in  these  anniversary  exercises,  when  I 
say  that  each  recurring  visit  but  seems  to  highten  the  coloring  of 
those  recollections  and  enhance  my  reverence  for  my  native 
town. 

Again,  Mr.  President,  both  for  myself  and  the  large  number 
of  SufTicld-born  visitors  present,  I  sincerely  thank  you  for  the 
opportunity  thus  afforded  us  of  joining  with  you  in  celebrating 
this  important  anniversary,  and  for  the  very  cordial  greeting 
which  is  being  extended  to  us  by  our  old  friends  and  neighbors, 
and  their  worthy  descendants  and  successors,  the  present  intelli- 
gent and  enterprising  occupants  of  the  truly  "sacred  soil"  of 
dear,  delightful  Old  Suflield, 


ODE  BY  THE  CliOIR. 


czyA^-i^ej  ^. 


'^.^^^^^ 


ADDRESS, 

By  the  Rev.  J.  L.  Hodge,  D.  D. 

Hon.  D.  W.  Norton  :  Dear  Sir  : — My  own  personal  ac- 
quaintance with  the  town  of  Suftield  extends  only  as  far  back 
as  forty  years,  but  from  a  somewhat  intimate  knowledge  of 
many  of  its  oldest  inhabitants,  I  became  familiar  with  much 
that  has  greatly  interested  me  in  its  history. 

Saffield  has  been  largely  favored  of  the  Lord,  not  only  in  its 
natural  advantages,  but  also  in  the  character  of  its  people.  They 
may  be  regarded  as  an  intelligent,  thrifty,  and  religious  pop- 
ulation. With  clear  and  decided  convictions  in  reference  to 
divine  and  secular  truth,  as  a  community,  they  have  always 
been  remarkably  tolerant  of  the  views  held  by  those  differing 
from  them. 

I  was  ordained  as  a  pastor  in  one  of  the  churches  there  about 
thirty-seven  years  since.*  I  heard  much  of  the  character  and 
excellence  of  those  who  had  preceded  me  in  the  ministry  of  the 
town,  such  as  the  "  Gays,"  father  and  son,  both  eminent  in  their 
day.  The  two  Ilastings,  also  father  and  son,  who,  like  the 
Gays,  did  much  for  the  honor  and  advancement  of  religion 
among  the  people.  In  a  later  day,  there  was  Morse  and  Waldo, f 

*  First  Baptist  Cliurch,  on  Zion's  Hill. 

+  Rev.  Daniel  Waldo  was  born  in  Windham,  Conn.,  Sept.  10th,  1702. 
lie  remained  at  home  on  the  larm  until  1778,  when  at  the  a2;e  of  sixteen  he  was 
drafted  as  a  soldier  for  a  month's  service,  durine;  a  time  of  imminent  peril  at  New 
London,  and  soon  after  enlisted  as  a  volunteer  in  the  service  of  the  State.  lie 
was  captured  l)y  theToi-ies  at  Ilorseneck,  and  carried  to  New  York,  where  he  Avas 
coiitincd  in  the  "  Siiy-ar  House,"  then  the  j^rand  depot  for  prisoners ;  but  after  a 
confinement  of  two  months  was  cxchani^ed.  Subsequently  he  resumed  his  labors 
on  the  farm,  and  we  next  find  him,  about  the  ai^e  of  31,  commencing  study,  and  grad- 
uated at  Yale  College  in  the  class  of  1788.  He  studied  Theology  with  Dr.  Hurt, 
of  Preston,  Conn.,  and  was  licensed  to  preach  by  the  association  of  Windham 
county.  May  UJid,  17'.);i,  lie  was  ordained  and  installed  as  pastor  of  the  Second 
Congregational  Church,  (at  West  Snflleld,)  where  he  remained  until  180'.>.  In  1810- 
11  he  preached  at  Caml)ridgcport,  Mass.,  after  which  he  served  as  missionary  in 
Rhode  Island  till  18'i0,  then  preached  a  while  at  Harvard,  then  settled  for  twelve 
years  at  Exeter,  Conn.     After  which  he  resided  in  New  York,  and  retired  from 


28 

men  of  miglit  and  of  mark,  whose  influence  for  good  is  jet  felt 
in  a  large  degree. 

The  Baptists  in  Connecticut  were  greatly  indebted  to  Rev. 
Asahael  Morse  for  important  services  rendered  to  them  in  se- 
curing civil  advantages,  and  in  the  formation  of  their  mission- 
ary organizations.  Elder  Morse  was  a  great  man  in  every 
sense.  His  mind  was  not  only  of  the  highest  order,  but  he 
was  learned  above  many  of  his  dny,  and  one  of  the  most  elo- 
quent of  preachers. 

A  master  in  biblical  intcrjirctation,  and  in  a  knowledge  of 
divinity  he  had  few  equals.  When  he  engaged  in  debate  upon 
questions  relating  to  civil  or  religious  liberty,  he  never  failed 
to  show  the  "  hiding  of  his  power."  I  question  whether  any 
town  in  the  favored  State  of  Connecticut  was  ever  more  blessed 
with  I'evivals  of  religion,  or  ever  appreciated  such  gracious  vis- 
itations, more  than  yours.  I  regret  that  the  pressing  duties  of 
a  large  pastorate  in  this  city  makes  it  difficult  for  me  to  give 
you  a  full  report  of  my  remarks  made  on  the  occasion  of  your 
Bicentennial  in  October  last. 

Thine  ever, 

James  L.  Hodge. 


any  stated  cliarije,  occasionally  snjiplying  vacant  pulpits.  In  1856  Mr.  Waldo, 
then  94  years  of  age,  was  elected  Cliajjlain  of  the  House  of  Representatives,  dis- 
charging the  duties  of  that  position  with  general  acceptance. 

lie  died  at  Syracuse,  N.  Y.,  July  30th,  1804,  aged  101  years,  10  months,  and  20 
days.  His  mind  seemed  to  operate  with  a  freedom  little  diminished  till  the  day 
of  his  death.  He  died  not  from  the  eliects  of  the  decaj'  of  his  physical  powers, 
l)ut  from  the  effects  of  a  fall — leaving  a  record  bright  willi  patiiotism,  l)enevo- 
leuce,  and  holiness  of  life. — II.  M.  S. 


SINGING  BY  THE  CHOIK. 


C-^l-n^ 


^ 


^^-Cyuiy-i^^ 


HISTORICAL  ADDRESS, 

By  John  Lewis,  Esq. 


Mr.  President,  Ladies  and  Gentlemen  : — Wc  arc  gathered 
here  to-day  in  obedience  to  the  better  impulses  of  our  nature. 
We  have  come,  actuated  by  the  love  of  kindred;  by  affection  for 
the  land  of  our  ancestors  and  the  spot  of  our  birth-place;  by 
reverence  for  the  noble,  patient,  heroic  spirits  ofthepast;by 
a  deep  sense  of  obligation  and  gratitude  to  those  through  whose 
faithful  and  devoted  lives  we  are  enabled  to  meet  under  circum- 
stances so  happy  and  so  propitious.  We  have  come  from  diverse 
stations  and  employments,  from  multiform  and  strangely  varied 
experiences,  from  widely  distant  localities.  But  we  have  come 
with  a  conuiion  purpose,  with  hearts  stirred  by  common  emotions 
and  united  by  common  tics.  Here  is  the  spot  of  our  origin. 
About  this  place  cluster  the  recollections  of  childhood,  and  tlie 
tender  affections  that  center  in  home  and  kindred  and  friends. 
Here  our  fathers  lived.  These  places  their  feet  have  trod.  Tliese 
hills  and  valleys  their  eyes  have  been  wont  to  behold.  These 
fertile  acres  their  hands  reclaimed  from  the  primitive  forest,  and 
their  brows  watered  with  the  sweat  of  honest  toil.  Here  tliey 
planted  the  school  and  the  church.  Here  they  laid  dec})  and 
solid  the  foundations  of  our  present  civilization.  And  here,  in 
the  fullness  of  time,  they  were  gathered,  generation  after  gen- 
eration, unto  their  fathers,  and  their  bones  laid  to  rest  in  the  soil 
which  they  had  reclaimed  from  the  forest  and  the  savnge.  And 
now,  standing  upon  this  consecrated  ground,  with  all  these  hal- 
lowed associations  round  about  us,  and  all  these  tender  memories 
thronging  our  hearts,  can  we  fail  to  catch  the  inspiration  of  the 
hour  and  the  place;  can  we  fail  to  enter  with  earnest  and  devoted 
hearts  into  the  services  and  festivities  of  this  occasion? 

But  the  memorial  tributes  and  rejoicings  of  this  anniversary, 
though  prompted  by  the  more  tender  and  pathetic  attributes  of 


30 

our  nature,  and  responding  more  especially  to  the  sympathies 
and  affections,  are  not  without  their  jiractical  bearing.  AVe  are 
met,  not  simply  to  give  expression  to  our  feelings  of  honor  and 
gratitude  and  love,  but  also  to  study  the  lives  and  characters  of 
those  who  have  filled  these  places  during  the  last  two  hundred 
years.  From  this  study  wo  may  derive  a  fund  of  historical  ex-' 
perience  and  knowledge,  the  value  of  which  cannot  be  questioned. 
For  in  the  lives  of  all,  in  business,  in  morals,  in  politics,  in  all 
the  avocations  and  walks  of  life,  there  arise  emergencies  when 
the  light  of  experience  is  pre-eminently  needed  ;  and  this  expe- 
rience can  be  gathered  from  the  study  of  history.  For  human 
nature,  though  it  may  appear  in  different  circumstances  and 
under  new  modifications,  is  alwa^^s  the  same  in  its  essential  ele- 
ments. And  all  events,  of  whatever  nature  or  description,  are 
governed  by  the  same  undeviating  laws  of  cause  and  effect. 
Therefore  if  we  would  forecast  the  issue  of  any  particular  enter- 
prise or  combination  of  circumstances,  or  if  we  would  predict 
the  course  of  men  in  the  presence  of  any  particular  temptations 
or  in  any  given  emergency,  we  must  study  human  nature  and 
the  social  and  material  laws  of  all  phenomena  as  revealed  in  the 
history  of  the  past.  And  so  the  examples  of  our  fathers;  their 
successes,  their  failures,  their  errors,  if  rightly  understood  and 
appreciated,  will  become  lamps  to  our  feet  in  the  future  that  is 
before  us. 

Still  other  benefits  that  result  from  occasions  like  this  are  of  a 
social  and  personal  nature.  Brought  together  in  friendly  Inter- 
course, are  men  and  women  from  different  sections  of  our  coun- 
try, habituated,  it  may  be,  to  different  climates,  to  different  scenes 
and  customs  and  societies.  Representatives  of  all  the  various 
avocations,  and  of  all  the  contrasts  of  social  position  and  indi- 
vidual experience,  meet  here  on  common  ground  to  compare  past 
adventures  and  to  revive  old  memories.  Out  of  this  friendly 
interchange  of  thoughts  and  feelings  and  recollections  there 
comes  a  better  social  culture,  and  more  liberal  and  more  cosmo- 
politan Ideas.  And  better  than  all  else,  these  occasions  tend  to 
breathe  Into  the  soul  a  new  and  more  earnest  life,  to  inspire  higher 
and  nobler  purposes,  to  create  more  strength  and  more  determi- 
nation to  grapple  with  the  great  tasks  and  problems  of  life. 

This  Is  not,  tlierefore,  a  mere  holiilay  on  which  we  have  met 


31 

to  pass  the  time  in  idle  cnjoyinent,  Init  an  occasion  of  deep  sig- 
iiificance,  based  on  tlie  realities  of  the  past  and  reaching  forward 
to  modify  the  results  of  the  future,  developing  influences  that 
should  warm  and  inspire  every  heart,  and  involving  possibilities 
of  good  whose  effects  may  be  felt  to  the  end  of  time. 


The  historian  of  Suffield  labors  under  certain  intrinsic  dis. 
advantages.  Especiall  v  is  this  true  in  the  present  nge,  when  we 
have  become  so  accustomed  to  grand  and  startling  events.  We 
have  witnessed  the  conflicts  of  mighty  armies  joined  in  battles 
more  terrific  than  the  world  has  ever  seen  before.  We  have 
witnessed  the  succesful  completion  of  vast  industrial  enterprises, 
enterprises  that  revolutionize  commerce  and  modify  the  thouohts 
of  Christendom.  We  have  mingled  in  the  discussion  of  social  and 
political  questions  of  the  most  vital  and  absorbing  interest.  And 
we  have  become  so  familiar  with  these  magnificent  displays  of 
power,  and  with  these  intense  nervous  and  intellectual  excite- 
ments, that  we  are  in  danger  of  losing  our  interest  in  the  ordinai-y 
affairs  of  life.  It  is  necessary,  therefore,  to  realize  at  the  outset 
that  the  history  of  Suflield  will  not  lead  us  through  a  succession 
of  these  grand  events;  that  its  history  is  not  that  of  a  great  na- 
tion, controlling  millions  of  men,  dealing  with  vast  resources 
and  setting  on  foot  mighty  armies,  but  simj^ly  the  history  of  a 
town^  wdiich,  however  imjwrtant  and  exemplary  as  a  town,  is  yet 
only  one  of  many  thousand  similar  subdivisions  into  which  our 
country  is  distributed,  and  which  can  only  furnish  us  events  of  a 
common  character  and  a  history  made  up  of  the  ordinary  every- 
day life  of  the  ordinary  men  and  women  of  their  time.  But 
notwithstanding  this  lack  of  general  interest,  the  subject  possesses 
one  great  advantage  which  to  us  may  well  compensate  for  all 
others;  it  is  the  story  o^ our  fathers  and  the  history  of  our  native 
place. 


About  ten  years  after  the  landing  of  the  rilgrims,  in  1020, 
reports  of  the  great  river  Qiionnetticut,  of  its  fertile  meadows 


82 

and  luxuriant  scenery,  began  to  reach  the  settlements  on  Massa- 
chusetts Bay.  In  1633  some  explorations  were  made  in  the  val- 
ley, and  shortly  after  the  towns  of  Windsoi',  Hartford,  Spring- 
field and  Wethersfield  were  founded.  Prior  to  the  settlement  of 
SuflEield,  seventeen  towns  were  thus  established  in  the  Connec- 
ticut Valley,  scattered  from  the  mouth  of  the  river  to  the  north- 
ern part  of  Massachusetts.  These  towns  were  connected  by 
rude  pathways,  threading  their  devious  routes  among  the  hills 
and  primitive  forests.  Two  of  these  pathways  traversed  Suf- 
lield,  or  Stony  Brook,  as  it  was  tlien  called.  One  entered  the 
town  in  the  northeast,  and  took  its  course  through  Crooked 
Lane  and  High  street  to  South  street,  and  was  known  as  the 
Springfield  road.  The  other,  entering  the  town  in  the  north- 
west, came  down  across  Hastings'  Hill,  and  united  with  the 
Springfield  road  near  the  north  end  of  South  street.  From 
South  street  the  two  roads  nnited  and  passed  down  through 
Windsor  to  Hartford. 

A  bird's-eye  view  of  Stony  Brook  at  this  period  would  reveal 
an  almost  unbroken  forest.  The  oak  and  the  pine  growing 
unmolested  for  centuries  reared  their  gigantic  forms  on  every 
hand,  at  once  evidence  of  the  fertility  of  the  soil  and  obstacles 
to  its  subjugation  by  the  pioneer.  Along  the  border  of 
Muddy  and  Stony  Ijrooks  would  be  seen  a  narrow  border  of 
meadow-land,  probably  the  only  open  lands  visible  in  the  whole 
landscape.  Glimpses  might  be  cauglit  of  an  occasional  traveler 
or  of  some  emigrant  party  pursuing  their  lonely  way  between 
the  upper  and  the  lower  towns  on  the  river.  Possibly  we  might 
discern  the  wigwam  of  the  Indian  and  follow  his  dusky  form 
as  he  stole  through  the  forest  in  pursuit  of  game,  or  loitered 
with  his  fishing  tackle  on  the  banks  of  our  little  streams.  It  is 
doubtful,  however,  whether  the  Indian  ever  formed  a  permanent 
abode  within  the  present  limits  of  our  town.  The  Poquonnocs 
of  Windsor,  and  the  Woronnocs  of  Westfield,  seem  to  have  been 
the  nearest  tribes.  But  the  Indians  laid  claim  to  this  territory 
as  a  part  of  their  hunting  ground,  and  this  claim  was  formally 
extinguished  by  Mr.  Pynchon,  of  Springfield,  to  whom  they 
deeded  the  twenty-three  thousand  acres  of  Stony  Brook  for  the 
consideration  of  thirty  pounds  sterling,  or  less  than  one  cent  per 
acre.     From  numerous  arrow-heads  and  other  relics  found  here. 


33 

we  kutjw  tliat  Stony  Brook  has  been  visited  by  the  Indians, 
but  probably  they  only  came  to  form  temporary  encampments, 
or  in  transient  hunting  parties,  to  pursue  for  a  time  the  pleasures 
of  the  chase. 

In  the  iutercourse  between  tin.'  up[)er  and  lower  towns  on  the 
river,  the  territory  of  Stony  Brook  was  frecjuently  traversed, 
and  its  natural  advantages,  together  with  the  apparent  fertility 
of  its  soil,  became  well  known  iii  Springfield,  and  being  a  part 
of  that  town,  it  was  natural  that  the  first  movements  towards 
its  settlement  should  originate  in  that  place.  The  first  of  these 
attemiits  was  made  in  1660,  when  a  petition  was  preferred  to  the 
General  Court  at  Boston,  praying  for  a  grant  of  land  at  Stony 
Brook.  This  petition  received  a  favorable  answer,  but  for  some 
reason  the  enterprise  was  abandoned.  In  1669  the  selectmen  of 
Springfield  assumed  authority  to  form  and  direct  tlie  settlement. 
They  made  several  grants  of  land,  and  among  otliers  to  Samuel 
and  Joseph  Harmon,  who,  it  is  thought,  in  the  following  sum- 
mer, took  up  their  abode  on  the  Northampton  road,  in  the 
vicinity  of  the  Stony  Brook.  In  the  fall  of  the  same  year 
(1670),  a  petition  was  brought  to  the  October  session  of  the 
General  Court  at  Boston,  by  citizens  of  Springfield,  asking  for 
permission  to  establish  a  plantation  at  "a  place  called  by  ye 
name  of  Stony  Riuer."  On  the  12th  day  of  October,  1670,  the 
General  Court  took  this  petition  into  consideration,  and  granted 
to  the  petitioners  permission  to  settle  there  a  township,  six  miles 
square,  on  condition  that  in  five  years  they  should  have  twenty 
families  settled  there,  and  should  at  the  close  of  that  period 
maintain  an  able  minister.  At  the  same  time  a  committee  of 
six,  with  John  Pynchon  as  chairman,  was  appointed  to  manage 
the  aifairs  of  the  plantation,  and  to  superintend  its  settlement. 
This  committee  met  in  January,  1671,  and  adopted  a  set  of 
rules,  in  accordance  with  which  they  should  proceed  in  the  dis- 
cbarge of  their  functions.  It  was  determined  to  grant  land  in 
parcels  of  sixty,  fifty,  and  forty  acres,  according  to  the  condi- 
tion and  rank  of  the  grantee  ;  and  that  in  all  grants  there  should 
be  one  acre  of  meadow  to  nine  of  u})land.  It  was  further  de- 
termined to  lay  out  and  settle  the  town  in  divisions,  separated 
by  highways  twenty  rods  wide,  and  to  cut  these  divisions  into 
5 


84 

sections  by  roads  eight  rods  wide.  If  this  plan  was  ever  carried 
out,  all  trace  of  it  is  now  lost,  and  there  is  nothing  in  the  pres- 
ent aspect  of  the  town  to  indicate  that  such  a  disj)osition  was 
actually  made  of  the  first  settlers.  At  this  meeting  of  the  com- 
mittee, grants  of  land  were  made  to  the  following  persons  : 
Samuel  Harmon,  Joseph  Harmon,  Nathaniel  Harmon,  Zerub- 
babel  Fyler,  and  Robert  Old,  The  grants  to  Samuel  and  Joseph 
Ilarmon  were  probably  confirmations  of  the  land  they  had  pre- 
viously taken  up  on  the  Northampton  i-oad.  Unfortunately,  no 
documents  have  yet  been  discovered  that  definitely  state  the 
time,  place,  and  circumstances  of  the  first  settlement  of  Sufiield. 
We  know  when  the  settlement  was  authorized,  when  and  to 
whom  lands  were  first  granted,  but  this  is  all.  AVhile  it  is  quite 
certain  that  the  Harmons  were  the  pioneers  of  tlie  town,  and 
that  they  came  here  in  1670,  the  exact  date  of  their  settlement 
is  not  known. 

From  1670  to  1674,  inclusive,  the  committee  were  active  in 
advancing  the  interest  of  the  plantation.  Grants  of  land  were 
made  to  thirty-six  persons,  the  town  surveyed,  roads  laid  out,  a 
corn  and  saw  mill  erected,  a  common  laid  out  in  High  street  for 
public  uses,  a  lot  set  apart  for  the  use  of  the  minister,  and 
another  for  educational  purposes.  In  1674,  also,  by  application 
to  the  General  Court,  the  name  was  clianged  to  Southfield,  or 
Sufiield,  and  in  that  year  alone  twenty-one  grants  of  land  were 
made.  Everything  indicated  that  the  young  settlement  was 
prosperous.  ■  But  the  outbreak  of  King  Philip's  war,  which  oc- 
curred in  1675,  put  a  sudden  stop  to  its  progress.  Those  wdio 
had  taken  up  their  grants  of  land  were  obliged  to  remove  to 
places  of  greater  security,  and  Stony  Brook  was  abandoned  to 
the  wild  beast  and  the  savage.  A  blank  of  about  two  years  oc- 
curs in  the  records  of  the  committee,  after  which,  in  1676,  they 
resumed  their  functions.  Probably  nearl}^,  if  not  quite,  all  of 
the  old  settlers  returned  after  the  war  to  re-occupy  the  lands 
they  had  before  taken  up  and  improved.  An  endeavor  was  now 
made  on  the  part  of  the  committee  to  consolidate  the  inhabi- 
tants on  High  and  Featlier  streets,  for  the  convenience  of  self- 
protection.  This  design  was  in  a  measure  accomplished,  but  the 
fears  of  the  Indians  which  prompted  it  proved  groundless,  for 
th3re  is  no  evidence  and  no  tradition  that  they  ever  in  any  way 


85 

molested  tlic  young  settlemcut.  The  committee,  up  to  Januaiy, 
1682,  made  a  total  of  one  hundred  aud  fourteen  grants  of  land, 
comprising  ahout  six  thousand  acres,  or  one-fourth  the  entire 
area  of  the  town.  Tu  Afareh,  1082,  in  compliance  with  an  order 
of  the  General  Court,  obtained  October  12tli  of  the  i)revious 
year,  the  legal  voters  of  the  })lantation  were  convened,  and  the 
town  of  Suffield  first  organized.  The  committee  having  ful- 
filled the  office  to  which  they  were  ajipointed,  were  now 
discharged,  and  their  authority  superseded  by  that  of  the 
town.  A  board  of  five  selectmen  was  elected,  consisting 
of  Anthony  Austin,  Samuel  Kent,  Thomas  Eemington, 
John  Barber,  and  Joseph  Harmon.  The  organization  was  com- 
pleted by  the  election  of  other  town  officers,  having  essentially 
the  same  names  and  functions  as  at  present.  At  this  time  there 
were  about  eigiity  families  in  the  })hice,  and  a  |)opulation  of 
four  or  five  hundred.  A  list  of  thirty- four  persons  comprised 
the  legal  votei"s  of  the  town — a  number  which  included  less 
than  half  of  the  male  adults.  But  it  is  to  be  remembered  that 
Suflleld  was  at  this  time  a  part  of  the  Massachusetts  Colon}^, 
where  there  existed  both  ecclesiastical  and  civil  restrictions  on 
the  ballot — restrictions  that  gave  the  control  of  affairs  to  a  small 
minority,  ^riie  most  numerous  settlers  were  in  High  street. 
Here  were  located  the  Kings,  Ilanchets,  Remingtons,  Grangers, 
Kents,  Nortons,  Spencers,  and  Sikes.  A  road  leading  east 
from  High  street  connected  it  with  Feather  street,  where  lived 
the  Burbanks,  Ilollydays,  Smiths,  Trumbulls,  and  Palmers.  In 
South  street  were  the  Austins,  Risings,  and  Millers.  On  the 
western  road  were  the  Harmons  and  Copleys,  and  in  Crooked 
Lane  the  Taylors,  Hitciicocks,  and  Coopers. 

^Vonld  that  wc  might  lift  the  veil  of  two  centui'ies  and  catch 
a  glimpse  of  the  pioneer  settlement  as  it  was  in  1682.  There 
were  the  [primitive  highways,  whose  location  I  have  already  in- 
dicated. But  let  not  the  w^ord  liirjlnoays  suggest  smooth  turn- 
pikes lx)rdered  l)y  a  few  rods  of  grassy  meadow,  and  enclosed 
by  substantial  fences.  Think  rather  of  rude  patliwa\-s  winding 
among  the  stumps  and  trees,  wdiicli  still  occupied  the  land  set 
apart  for  public  travel.  Along  these  pathways  were  scattered 
the  dwellings  of  the  settlers.  These  were  cabins  of  the  rudest 
architecture,  contnining  for  the  most  yiart  but  a  single  room, 


30 

lighted  by  one  or  two  small  windows,  warmed  by  tlie  huge  fire- 
place, and  furnished  with  rude  stools,  and  tables,  and  shelves, 
and  compelled  to  answer  all  the  various  needs  of  the  family. 
Ricks  of  meadow  grass  and  stooks  of  corn  were  carefully  I'eared 
adjacent  to  the  still  ruder  shelters  provided  for  the  cattle. 
Around  these  comfortless  abodes  lay  a  few  acres  of  half  cleared 
land,  with  the  charred  stumps  yet  standing  and  the  green  copse 
about  their  roots.  And  beyond  this  little  clearing,  and  sur- 
rounding it  on  every  side,  lay  the  dark,  threatening  forest,  rear- 
ing aloft  its  mighty  trunks  in  defiant  grandeur. 

From  the  organization  of  the  town  in  1682  until  1749,  a  pe- 
riod of  nearly  seventy  years,  there  is  no  event  of  sufficient  pre- 
eminence to  serve  as  a  landmark  in  our  histoiy.  At  the  begin- 
ning of  this  period  we  behold  a  few  hundred  people,  dispersed 
in  rude  cabins,  in  the  midst  of  a  dense  forest,  with  nothing  but 
their  own  strong  arms  and  brave  hearts  to  depend  upon.  At 
first  the  settler  was  fortunate  if  l)y  dint  of  hard  work  he  suc- 
ceeded in  producing  enough  for  the  comfortable  subsistence  of 
his  family  and  his  cattle.  And  when,  after  years  spent  in  clear- 
ing land  of  the  heavy  forest  and  preparing  it  for  crops,  he  was 
enabled  to  raise  a  surplus  for  market,  other  difficulties  had  to  be 
encountered.  Markets  were  distant*  and  to  be  reached  by  a  la- 
borious and  dangerous  journey  through  almost  pathless  forests 
and  over  bridgelcss  streams.  And  when  reached,  it  was  more 
than  likely  that  his  produce  must  be  exchanged  for  other  com- 
modities instead  of  the  money  he  so  much  needed.  Tlius  almost 
every  circumstance  conspired  to  increase  the  difficulties  and  dis- 
couragements of  the  early  settler,  and  to  keep  him  in  well  nigh 
hopeless  povert}^  Frequently  the  inhabitants  were  compelled 
to  resort  to  the  General  Court  and  seek  relief  from  the  burden 
of  taxation.  And  graciously  the  General  Court  listened  to  their 
prayers,  granting  sometimes  an  entire  exemption  from  taxes,  and 
sometimes  permission  to  pay  them  in  the  produce  of  their  farms. 
The  exceeding  scarcity  of  money  is  shown  by  the  number  and 
character  of  its  substitutes.  Thus,  from  time  to  time,  corn,  rye^ 
wheat,  oats,  barley,  flax,  turpentine,  and  even  iron  were  made 
receivable  for  taxes  and  passed  current  in  the  town.  As  late  as 
1725,  it  was  voted  that  "  iron  should  be  accepted  as  town  paj^, 


37 

and  should  pass  and  be  received  into  the  town  treasury  at 
forty  shillings  per  hundred  weight."  And  so  the  history  of  this 
period  is  chiefly  made  up  of  the  })rivate  struggles  of  each  indi- 
vidual who  found  suflllcient  occupation  in  ])roviding  the  absolute 
necessaries  of  life.  And  yet  with  patience,  and  fortitude,  an<l 
Christian  zeal  they  labored  on,  sustained  by  the  consciousness 
of  a  noble  worlc,  and  cheered  by  the  hope  of  brighter  days  in 
the  future. 

The  public  business  of  the  town  during  this  period  was  much 
more  varied  than  at  present.  Besides  the  ordinary  superintend- 
ence of  civil  affairs,  the  town  had  charge  of  the  ecclesiastical 
and  educational  interests  of  the  settlement.  Town  meetings 
were  more  frequent  than  now,  and  in  accordance  with  the  no- 
tions of  those  days,  all  who  were  late  or  absent  were  suljjected 
to  a  fine.  At  these  meetings  grants  of  land  were  made  to  new 
settlers,  disputes  between  adjoining  proprietors  composed,  the 
enlargement  of  swine,  sheep,  geese,  and  cattle  regulated,  the  ex- 
tirpation of  crows,  blackbirds,  and  other  suj^posed  pests  of  the 
farmer  encouraged  by  bounties,  and  many  other  curious  sub- 
jects legislated  on,  all  of  which  have  long  since  ceased  to  be  the 
objects  of  public  action  on  the  part  of  the  town,  ISTcw^  roads 
were  continually  being  required  by  the  expanding  settlement. 
In  1726  the  road  to  Taintor's  Hill  was  established,  and  in  1736 
the  road  over  the  Mountain.  And  while  our  fathers  arttended 
to  the  material  demands  of  the  growing  plantation,  and  devised 
material  ways  to  promote  its  prosperity,  they  were  not  neglectful 
of  its  higher  interests./  Morals,  religion,  and  education,  from 
the  very  beginning  of  the  settlement,  received  their  due  share 
of  attention.  Votes  relating  to  these  vital  subjects  are  scattered 
thickly  over  the  records  of  the  town,  and  plainly  evince  the 
deep  interest  which  our  ancestors  felt  in  the  spii'ituul  wellhre  of 
the  peo})le.  And  no  higher  testimonial  can  be  given  of  their 
character  than  the  fact  that  in  the  midst  of  such  severe  phys- 
ical draughts  u})on  their  energies,  and  such  depressing  physical 
wants  and  burdens,  they  yet  had  time  and  s{)irit  fi)r  deliber- 
ations, labors,  and  sacrifices  -in  behalf  of  the  intellectual  nnd 
moral  welfare  of  their  being. 

In  addition  to  these  internal  activities,  our  fathers  were  also 
careful  to  assert  their  rights  a'>:iinst  the  cncroachnionls  of  sur- 


38 

rounding  towns.  In  these  early  times  it  was  impossible  to  de- 
termine the  boundaries  of  towns  or  states  with  much  accuracy. 
There  existed  no  correct  geographical  idea  of  the  country,  in- 
struments were  much  more  rude  and  imperfect,  and  men  less  in- 
structed in  the  science  and  art  of  surveying.  It  is  not  strange, 
tlicreforc,  that  adjoining  towns  differed  as  to  the  precise  location 
of  the  boundary  line  between  them.  From  the  earliest  times 
these  diniculties  arose  between  Suflield  and  the  inhabitants  of 
Windsor  and  Simslniry.  Man}^  complaints  were  made  against 
the  people  of  these  latter  places,  on  account  of  depradations 
committed  by  them  in  what  were  claimed  to  be  the  forests  of 
Suflield.  The  causes  of  the  different  parties  were  espoused  by 
their  respective  colonics.  Although  the  controversy  was  car- 
ried on  with  considerable  acrimony  at  times,  and  formed  the 
subject  of  many  exciting  discussions  among  the  people,  and  of 
some  correspondence  between  the  colonies,  yet  no  serious  col- 
lision is  known  to  have  taken '  place.  A  disputed  boundary 
question  between  Suffield  and  Westfield,  after  much  fruitless 
controversy,  was  finally  settled  by  litigation.  A  more  serious 
difficulty,  however,  relating  to  l)oundarics  arose  between  the  two 
colonics  of  Massachusetts  and  Connecticut,  involving  Suffield  as 
part  of  tlic  territory  in  dispute.  It  will  be  rcmend)cred  that  Suffield 
was  settled  under  direction  of  the  General  Court  of  Massachusetts, 
and  by  the  people  of  Massachusetts.  But  within  a  quarter  of  a  cen- 
tury her  right  to  jurisdiction  was  questioned.  In  1713  the  col- 
onies joined  in  a  survey  of  the  line  between  them,  and  Suffield, 
Enfield,  Woodstock,  and  Somers  were  found  to  be  within  the 
chartered  limits  of  Connecticut.  But  having  been  settled  by 
Massachusetts,  and  being  then  under  its  jurisdiction,  it  was 
agreed  between  the  colonies,  but  without  consulting  the  towns 
themselves,  that  they  should  remain  with  the  colony  that  found- 
ed them,"  and  that  Connecticut  should  receive  in  lieu  thereof  a 
tract  of  land  in  AVestern  Massachusetts.  1'his  land  was  ac- 
cordingl}^  set  out  to  Connecticut,  being  tlie  territory  now  mainly 
comprised  in  the  towns  of  Pelham,  Belchertown,  and  Ware, 
and  was  subsequently  sold  and  the  proceeds  given  to  Yale  Col- 
lege. In  a  few  years  the  dissatisfaction  with  this  arrangement 
broke  out  in  open  measures  of  denunciation  and  attack.  In 
1721  Samuel  Terry,   of  Enfield,   and  John    Kent,   of  Suffield, 


30 

were  a})puintcd  b}'  tlicir  respective  towns  to  draw  up  a  petition 
to  the  General  Assembly  of  Connecticut,  setting  fortli  the  in- 
justice and  illegality  of  the  agreement  under  which  their  char- 
tered rights  had  been  bargained  awa}',  and  praying  that  colony 
to  receive  them  under  its  jurisdiction.  ( )ther  petitions  of  sim- 
ilar import,  in  some  of  which  AVoodstock  and  Somers  also 
united,  continued  to  bo  presented  to  the  General  Assembly  of 
Connecticut  from  time  to  time.  At  last,  in  1749,  that  body  for- 
mally voted  to  receive  them  under  its  jurisdiction,  and  prepared 
to  maintain  their  claims  in  whatsoever  forum  they  should  be  im- 
pleaded. But  Massachusetts,  though  making  some  threats  of 
an  appeal  to  England,  quietly  suljmitted  to  the  choice  of  the 
towns,  and  never  afterwards  made  any  serious  attem])t  to  en- 
force its  claim.  It  has  been  said  that  these  towns,  in  thus  en- 
deavoring to  come  under  the  government  of  Connecticut,  were 
influenced  simply  by  a  mercenary  m.otive;  that  as  Massacliu- 
setts  had  a  larger  public  debt  and  imposed  larger  taxes  than 
Connecticut,  they  took  this  way  to  escape  the  pecuniary  bur- 
dens laid  upon  them.  It  is  sufficient  answer  to  this  charge  to 
say  that  the  towns  took  vigorous  action  on  the  subject  more 
than  twenty  years  before  tliat  debt  was  contracted,  and  before 
its  burden  could  be  felt.  Their  change  of  jurisdiction  has  also 
been  stigmatized  as  a  revolt  and  a  secession.  Let  the  facts  an- 
swer. The  towns  were  acknowledged  by  both  colonies  to  be 
within  the  chartered  limits  of  Connecticut.  That  charter  con- 
ferred upon  all  the  people  embraced  within  its  territorial  limits 
equal  and  common  rights  and  privileges,  but  did  not  give  to 
one  portion  of  the  people  power  to  alienate  another  portion. 
These  towns  had,  therefore,  so  far  as  any  power  on  this  conti- 
nent was  concerned,  an  absolute  and  inalienable  right  to  be  un- 
der the  government  of  Connecticut,  and  any  bargain  between 
the  colonies  in  violation  of  that  right  was  utterly  void  and  of 
no  effect.  Their  claim  rested  on  a  substantial  foundation,  both 
of  law  and  of  justice.  And  while  it  is  true  that  they  had  a 
motive  in  iirosecuting  their  claim,  it  consisted  not  in  any  mer- 
cenary or  disloyal  feelings,  but  in  a  manly  determination  to  ob- 
tain their  rights,  and  in  a  laudal)lc  desire  to  enjoy  the  more  lib- 
eral civil  franchises  which  this   charter  secured   to  the  citizen, 


40 

and  of  which  they  were  uuhiwfiilly  deprived  so  long  as  they 
were  under  the  government  of  Massachusetts. 

Thus  for  more  than  three-quarters  of  a  century  Suiricld  was 
to  all  effects  and  purposes  a  part  of  Massachusetts.  This  fact 
adds  many  difficiilties  to  the  study  of  our  history,  for  the  rec- 
ords and  documents  relating  to  it  are  scattered  over  two 
States  instead  of  one. 

The  period  from  1749  untd  the  oatbreak  of  the  Revolution 
is  chiefly  distinguished  in  colonial  history  by  the  French 
and  Indian  wars.  Soon  after  the  colonization  of  this  country 
was  begun,  a  struggle  arose  between  France  and  England  for 
supremacy  in  America.  Several  wars  succeeded  each  other,  in 
which  the  colonists  were  obliged  to  take  the  brunt  of  the  bur- 
den. To  these  wars  Snffield  contributed  her  proportion  of 
troops,  and  in  them  she  was  represented  by  Major  General 
Phineas  Lyman,  He  bore  an  active  and  honorable  part  in  the 
various  campaigns,  and  at  the  final  close  of  the  struggle,  in 
1763,  he  went  to  England  to  secure  a  grant  of  land  for  himself 
and  other  colonial  officers.  Having  been  successful  in  his  ob- 
ject, he  returned  to  this  country  in  1772,  and  soon  after  died  in 
the  region  of  the  Mississippi,  where  the  grant  was  located. 
General  Lyman  represented  tlie  town  in  the  legislative  assem- 
blies of  Connecticut  and  IMassachu setts,  and  took  a  leading  part 
in  its  public  business  and  enterprise.  He  was  the  first  of  her 
sons  who  rose  to  eminence  in  the  country  at  large,- and  is  de- 
serving of  a  prominent  place  in  our  esteem. 

The  close  of  Mr.  Lyman's  career  marks  very  nearly  the  com- 
pletion of  the  first  century  of  our  history.  From  two  little 
cabins  on  Stony  Brook,  with  their  lonely  inmates,  the  town  had 
expanded  to  a  population  of  about  two  thousand  persons,  scat- 
tered over  its  entire  area,  and  })ossessed  of  a  property  valuation 
of  about  sixty  thousand  pounds  sterling.  Patience,  industry, 
and  intclliii'cnce  had  received  their  reward. 


About  the  beginning  of  the  second  century  of  our  history 
those  dissensions  between  America  and  England  which  led  to 
the  Revolution  began  to  inflame  the  popular  mind.     Already 


41 

the  large  cities  were  wiM  with  e-xeiteincnt,  and  iiopular  mectiuo's 
for  deliberation  and  action  were   fi-er|ueut  througliout  tlio  coun- 
try.    A  league,  known  :is  tlic  non-iin[)ortation  agreement,  was 
being  voluntarily  entered  into  by  the  colonists,  in  winch  tliey 
bound  themselves  to  discontinue  the  importation  of  all  articles 
not  absolutely  necessary  to  life,  and  united  to  encourage  the  do- 
mestic manufacture  of  all  such  goods  as  they  had  been  accus- 
tomed to  receive  from  England.     In  1770,  while  this  agreement 
was  before  the  country,  and  the  excitement  over  the  troubles 
increasing,  our  fathers  camo  together  to  deliberate  on  the  state 
of  the  country,  and  to  give  public  expression  to  their  senti- 
ments.    AVould  that  we  might  look  in  upon  that  brave  assem- 
bly, watch  their  earnest  and  determined  faces,  listen  to  the  out- 
pouring of  their  patriotism  and  devotion,  and  breathe  the  nol)le 
spirit  that  pervaded  their  hearts.     But  a   hundred  years   has 
drawn  its  impenetrable  veil  over  the  scenes  of  that  day,  and  we 
must  content  ourselves  with  the  final  result  of  their  delibera- 
tions.    They  adopted  a  series  of  resolutions  abounding  with 
patriotic  devotion,  expressing  hearty  approval  of  the  non-im- 
portation agreement,  and  pledging  themselves  to  perform  and 
maintain  it.     The  resolutions,  in  closing,   denounce  those  who 
shall  violate  the  agreement  in  the  following  spirited  language  : 
"Let  the  goods  of  such  single souled  wreches  that  Kegard  noth- 
ing but  their  own  interest,  that  Cultivate  and  Endeavour  to 
promote  the  Same  in  a  way  evidently  Ruinous  to  their  own 
Country'',  lie  upon  their  own  hands.     Let  their  Crime  be  their 
jumishment,  and  Should  the  I)e})lorible  Event  of  the  Loss  of 
American  Liberty  take  place,  may  themselves  be  accounted  as 
Ignominus,  Disgracefull,  and  Selvish  mortals,  and  unfit  for  So- 
cieti  by  Evxry  brave.  Noble  Patriot  and  virtuous  amcrican, 
and  may  their  Names  Descend  to  the  Remotest  Posterity  with 
all   that   ignominy  and  Disrespect   they  so  justly  merit   and 
Deserve."     They  also  voted  to  enter  these  resolutions  amount 
the  records  of  the  town,  "  as  a  moniment  to  be  handed  Down 
to  Posterity  wherein  they  may  Sec  and  behold  how  Carefull  the 
present  Age  have  bin  to  transmit  to  them  the  inestimable  Privi- 
leges of  Liberty  and  freedom,  and  to  Excite  them  to  the  Like 
Conduct  on  Similar  Occasions."     These  are  their  words  to  pos- 
terity and  to  us,  recorded  tliat  we  might  know  how  provident 
() 


42 

they  were  of  our  welfare.     What  a  contrast  between  the  gath- 
ering of  to-day  and  that  of  a  hundred  years  ago!     Now  all  is 
joy,  prosperity,   and  peace.     We  are  a  constituent  part  of  a 
mighty  nation,  celebrated  for  the  liberty  and  beneficence  of  its 
institutions,  and  renowned  for  the  intelligence  and  industry  of 
its   people.     Then    dark   clouds   rolled   athwart   the   heavens, 
threatening  danger,  and  tumult,  and  war.     A  frowuiing  and  mys- 
terious future  lay  before  the  people,  into  which  they  were  brave- 
ly marching  in  the  path  of  duty,  ignorant  of  whether  it  would 
lead  them  to  glory  or  the  grave.     They  were  met  on  that  oc- 
casion to  give  open  and  public  support  to  a  cause  which,  if  not 
successful,  might  end  in  treason  and  in  death.     Oh,  the  noble 
daring!     Oh,  the  unparalleled  devotion  and  self-sacrifice!     Ob, 
the  sublime  fliith  in  the  potency  of  truth,  and  justice,  and  lib- 
erty that  animated  and  sustained  the  hearts  of  our  fathers  in 
that  dark  hour  of  our  history.     Had  they  yielded  or  faltered 
ilieii,  who  can  tell  how  much  we,  how   much   humanity,  would 
have  lost?     But  they  yielded  not  until  faith  was  changed  to 
victory,  and  their  brows  received  the  crown  of  immortal  honor. 
Such  deliberate  and   universal   <)})position    warned   England 
that  she  must  desist  from  her  odious  and  op[M-essive  policy  of 
taxing  the  colonies  without  their  consent.     But,  fortunately  for 
us  and  the  world,  she  did  not  heed  the  warning.     More  oppres- 
sive and  more  insulting  measures  continued   to  be  enacted  by 
the  British  Parliament,  and  both  parties  waxed  more  and  moi'c 
exasperated,  and  more  and  more    determined  upon  their  re- 
spective lines  of  action.     The  Port  of  Boston  was  closed,  and  in 
consequence  thousands  of  persons  were  thrown  out  of  employ- 
ment and  reduced  to  the  extremes  of  want.     This  tyrannical 
act  roused  the  whole  country,  embittering  the  opposition  of  the 
colonists,  and  calling  forth  the  loudest  denunciations.     Again 
our  fathers  convened,  and  this  time  on  a  day  that  was  soon  after 
to  become  forever  memorable  in  the  history  of  civil  libert}^ — Jaly 
4i//,  1774.     Resolutions  were  passed  denouncing  the  policy  of 
England,  and  expressing  sympathy  for  the  unfortunate  people 
of  Boston,  and  a  committee  was  a[>})ointed  to   raise  money  for 
the  relief  of  its  suffering  poor. 

But  the  time  was  at  hand  which   should  demand  something 
more  of  our  fathers   than   resolutions   and   cliaritv.     'i'he  time 


43 

was  at  hand  wlicu  llicir  stamina  and  patriotism  were  to  be 
tested.  The  time  was  at  hand  when  the  long  contest  of  words 
between  the  colonies  and  the  mother  country  was  to  issue  in 
blood.  AVinter  })assed  away,  and  the  spring  of  1775  was 
ushered  in.  The  trees  budding  and  blossoming  under  the  gen- 
ial influences  of  the  season,  the  grass  springing  in  the  meadows, 
the  air  resonant  with  the  songs  of  returning  birds,  and  the 
farmer  preparing  his  ground  for  the  reception  of  the  seed,  were 
all  tokens  of  joy  and  of  peace.  But  the  beautifid  picture  is 
dissolved  as  Lexington  sends  its  dreadful  echoes  through  the 
country.  There  were  messengers  galloping  in  hot  haste,  and 
alarm-fires  burning  on  the  hills.  Ev^erywhere  there  was  hurry, 
bustle,  and.  confusion.  The  husbandman  left  his  plow,  the 
smith  his  forge,  and  the  mechanic  his  workshop.  Arms  were 
brightened,  accoutrements  improvised,  farewells  spoken,  and 
then  the  face  was  turned  towards  Boston.  All  the  avenues  to 
the  threatened  city  were  fdled  with  men  thronging  and  converg- 
ing to  the  seat  of  war.  What  now  of  Suffield  !  A  few  words 
heading  a  dingy  pay-roll  in  the  library  at  Hartford  are  the  re- 
corded history  of  the  town  in  that  momentous  period :  — 
"Marched  from  SufTield  for  relief  of  Boston  in  the  Lexington 
Alarm,  April,  177."),  Captain  Elihu  Kent  and  one  hundred  and 
fourteen  men."  The  promptness  with  which  this  company  was 
enlisted  and  started  on  its  march  to  Boston  eclipses  anything 
done  by  the  present  generation  in  the  late  war. 

The  troops  which  poured  into  Boston  in  the  uprising  imme- 
diately after  tlie  battle  of  Lexington  were  an  unorganized  and 
undi.sei[>rmcd  mass,  enlisted  for  a  few  days  or  weeks,  or  perhaps 
without  any  dclinitc  enlistment  at  all.  They  soon  returned, 
and  their  places  were  supplied  by  new  and  regular  levies.  Ac- 
cordingly within  a  month  Captain  Kent  and  bis  company  were 
again  in  SufTield.  In  May  of  the  same  year,  1775,  a  second 
company  was  recruited  in  Suffield,  under  command  of  Captain 
Oliver  ir:iiiclictt,  who  was  also  first  lieutenant  of  the  former 
compau}'.  This  company  consisted  of  one  hundred  and  three 
men,  some  of  whom  re  eidisted  fronr  Cai)tain  Kent's  company. 
r>ui  making  allowances  for  these  re-enlistments,  more  than  a 
hundred  and  fifty  men  entered  the  Continental  service  from 
Sufiield  within  a  month  from  the  battle  of  Lexington.     Captain 


Ilancliot's  company  remained  about  Boston  during  the  summer 
of  1775,  and  is  thought  to  have  participated  in  the  battle  of 
Bunker  Ilill.  In  September  of  this  year  it  formed  part  of  an 
expedition  against  Quebec.  The  execution  of  this  enterprise 
req^uired  a  long  and  perilous  march  through  the  wilderness  to 
Canada.  At  the  beginning  of  the  march  provisions  for  forty 
days  were  distributed  to  the  various  companies.  In  crossing 
streams,  and  forcing  a  way  through  swamps  and  forests,  many 
accidents  occurred,  and  many  companies  lost  a  part  or  the  whole 
of  their  supplies.  But  it  is  recorded  of  Captain  ITanchet  that 
by  his  su23erior  care  and  skill  he  preserved  the  provisions  of  his 
compan}!-  from  the  casualties  of  the  march,  and  was  enabled  to 
distribute  a  part  of  his  supply  to  other  companies,  and  to  miti- 
gate.thcreby  the  extremes  of  their  suffering.  It  is  impossible 
to  describe  the  horrors  of  that  march.  For  thirty  days  they 
pursued  their  fatiguing  journey,  amid  cold,  and  rain,  and  fam- 
ine, through  forests,  and  swamps,  and  rivers,  burdened  with 
their  arms  and  equipments,  and  tortured  by  the  pangs  of  hun- 
ger. In  a  memorial  paper  to  the  General  Assemblj^,  the  origi- 
nal of  which  under  liis  own  hand  is  still  preserved  in  the  State 
archives.  Captain  Ilanchet  says  :  "  Having  arrived  before  Que- 
bec, in  Endeavouring  to  take  that  City  by  Storm  and  by  fortune 
of  War,  the  Memorialist  and  Most  of  his  Companj^  who  Sur- 
vived the  Attempt  were  taken.  Made  Prisoners,  and  himself  put 
in  Irons,  and  Continued  in  Captivity  until  the  month  of  Octo- 
ber, 1776."  During  this  period  of  captivity  he  generously  ad- 
vanced to  his  company  nearly  a  thousand  dollars  in  good 
money,  and  by  his  timely  charity  saved  them  from  much 
trouble  and  privation.  These  prisoners  were  subsequently  ex- 
changed, and  the  brave  and  worthy  captain  suitably  remuner- 
ated by  the  legislature. 

In  177G  a  company  was  raised,  partly  in  Suffield  and  partly 
in  Windsor,  by  Ca})tain  John  Harmon,  of  this  towi].  It  con- 
sisted of  eighty  men,  most  of  whom  enlisted  from  Suffield. 
Tlxis  company  formed  part  of  the  regular  Continental  army,  and 
wasprobal)ly  in  the  campaign  about  New  York.  Here,  it  will 
be  remembered,  the  enemy  in  the  summer  of  1776  massed  about 
thirty  thousand  men,  with  the  determination  to  reduce  that  city 
to  their  possession.     To  withstand  this  powerful   foive.  Wash- 


45. 

ington  liad  an  iuferior  number  of  troops,  less  efficiently  disci- 
plined and  provided.  To  add  to  the  peril  of  bis  situation  and 
of  the  cause  his  little  army  was  constantly  being  diminished  b}^ 
the  return  of  soldiers  whose  terms  of  service  had  expired.  In 
this  emergency  Washington  had  recourse  to  Governor  Trum- 
bull, of  Connecticut.  And  in  compliance  with  his  requisition, 
and  by  vote  of  the  General  Assembly,  all  the  militia  west  of 
the  Connecticut  river  were  ordered  to  inarch  forthwith  to  New 
York.  This  was  in  the  early  part  of  August,  and  in  the  busy 
harvest  season  ;  but  notwithstanding  this,  the  call  was  respond- 
ed to  by  fourteen  regiments,  who  inmiediately  set  out  for  the 
front.  Three  companies  marched  from  Suffield,  including  all 
the  militia  of  the  town,  and  jirobabl}'  nearly  every  man  in  the 
place  liable  to  militaiy  duty.  Before  these  troops  could  return, 
the  harvest  must  be  completed  and  crops  gathered  for  the  win- 
ter's supply.  Our  mothers  were  adequate  to  the  emergency. 
With  hearts  torn  hy  the  anguish  of  recent  separations,  and 
heavy  with  the  dangers  of  their  country,  they  willingly  assumed 
the  double  labors  of  the  farm  and  the  household,  and  patiently 
completed  the  harvest  while  their  husbands,  and  brothers,  and 
sons  confronted  the  enemy  in  the  field.  The  women  of  the 
Revolution !  What  eulogy  can  exaggerate  the  importance  of 
their  services  ?  Who  can  estimate  the  value  of  their  brave  and 
encouraging  counsels  ?  Wlio  can  tell  how  much  their  noble 
and  patriotic  devotion  contributed  to  tlic  linal  triumph  of  the 
cause  of  their  country  and  of  liberty  ? 

Two  other  companies  seem  to  have  been  recruited,  either 
wholly  or  in  part,  from  Suffield,  for  the  regular  Continental 
army.  One  was  commanded  by  Capt.  Nathaniel  Pomeroy,  the 
other  b}'  Capt.  Samuel  Granger.  Other  calls  were  also  made 
upon  the  militia  when  sudden  emergencies  ai-ose  and  hastv 
levies  were  to  be  made.  But  these  numerous  and  excessive  de- 
mands of  the  army,  and  these  great  drauglits  on  the  physical 
energies  of  the  people,  after  four  or  five  years'  experience,  be- 
gan to  grow  wearisome.  The  rampant  enthusiasm  of  seventy- 
six  died  away.  War  was  found  to  be  a  tei'ril)le  realit}'.  Its 
dangers  and  hardships  so  long  and  so  manfully  endured  began 
at  last  to  blunt  the  ai'dor  of  the  people.  Voluntary  enlistments 
became  less  and  less  numerous,  and   finally  ceased  altogether. 


46 

In  consequence  of  this,  the  authorities  of  the  town,  in  1780, 
were  obliged  to  offer  liberal  bounties  to  induce  volunteers  to 
come  forward.  These  bounties  were  increased  from  time  to 
time,  but  proved  ineffectual.  Finally  a  committee  was  ajipoint- 
cd  and  authorized  to  hire  recruits  sufficient  to  till  the  quota  of 
the  town,  on  the  best  terms  they  could  make.  During  the  year 
from  1780  to  1781,  fourteen  town  meetings  were  held,  nearly 
all  of  which  were  specially  called  to  deliberate  on  measures 
to  raise  men  and  money  for  the  war.  This  fact  alone  shows  the 
serious  straits  to  which  the  town  was  reduced,  and  the  arduous 
efforts  necessary  to  fill  its  quota  of  troops. 

The  people  also  suffered  the  most  severe  taxation.  At  this 
period  the  grand  list  of  the  town  was  about  one  hundred 
thousand  dollars.  Before  the  war  began  the  amount  raised  to 
defray  the  ordinary  annual  expenses  of  the  town  was  from  five 
to  seven  hundred  dollars.  But  in  1778  a  tax  of  five  thousand 
dollars  v/as  levied,  and  in  the  year  following  one  of  fifteen 
thousand  dollars.  We  of  this  generation  know  something  of 
war,  and  of  the  extraordinary  demands  incident  thereto.  But 
our  exertions  and  sacrifices,  when  compared  with  those  of  our 
fathers  in  the  devolution,  become  insignificant.  Were  we  called 
upon  now  to  raise  two  hundred  thousand  dollars  in  one  year  by 
taxation,  and  to  send  every  able-bodied  man  into  the  field,  wo 
miffht  realize  somewhat  the  travail  in  which  this  great  nation 
was  born. 

The  total  number  of  troops  furnished  by  Safiield  in  the  Rev- 
olutionary war  cannot  be  exactly  ascertained.  Judging  from 
the  imperfect  data  at  command,  and  including  all  who  served  in 
the  regular  army  or  militia  for  whatever  period  of  time,  the 
number  cannot  be  placeil  at  less  than  four  hundred.  Of  this 
number  thirty-two  are  known  to  have  lost  their  lives  in  the 
struggle.  Almost  a  century  has  passed  away,  in  which  their 
descendants  have  enjoyed  the  blessings  procured  at  the  cost  of 
their  blood.  A  century  !  and  yet  nothing  has  been  done  to  per- 
petuate their  names  or  to  give  public  expression  to  our  grati 
tudc.  Tlie  country  is  now  at  peace,  and  the  town  is  rich  and 
prosperous.  We,  in  greater  profusion  than  any  previous  gen- 
eration, are  reaping  the  precious  fruits  of  their  sacrifice.  And 
"it  is  to  be  hoped  that  at  a  day   not  far  distant  an   appropriate 


47 

inoiiuiiient  will  ari.'^e,  on  whose  iin])crisbable  stone  shall  be  en- 
graven, side  by  side,  the  names  of  those  who  fell  in  the  war  to 
establish  the  in(]e])en(lence  of  onr  countr}',  and  the  names  of 
those  who,  in  the  late  war,  fell  fighting  for  its  preservation. 


A  glanee  at  the  imUistrial  history'  of  Sufheld  ixvcals  many 
cui'ions  and  intert'sting  facts.  At  one  time  ship  iMiilding  was 
quite  extensively  carried  on  along  tln'  I'i  ver  boi'der.  Many  persons 
are  known  to  have  been  engaged  in  it,  and  many  vessels  are 
known  to  have  been  launched.  But  no  records  remain  suflicicnt 
to  indicate  the  full  extent  of  the  business.  Considerable  quan- 
tities of  iron  were  annually  wrought  into  a  variety  of  man- 
ufactured products.  Nearly  all  farming  utensils,  and  many  of 
the  implements  required  in  the  mechanical  trades,  were  made 
in  the  shops  of  our  blacksmiths.  And  in  Boston  Neck  was 
located  an  establishment  that  turned  out  four  or  five  thousand 
shovels  annually.  Turpentine  was  gathered  as  an  article  of 
commerce,  oil  manufactured  from  the  seed  of  flax,  and  spirit- 
uous litpiors  brewed  or  distille<l  in  large  quantities.  Salmon, 
as  well  as  shad,  were  caught  in  great  numbers  from  the  river, 
and  were  frecpiently  a  drug  in  the  market.  Many  persons  em- 
barked their  capital  in  the  indigo  trade,  and  went  long  jour- 
neys through  the  Southern  States  to  collect  the  article  for  com- 
merce. Others  engaged  in  the  fur  business  with  an  energy  and 
scope  that  reflected  credit  on  the  enterjirise  of  the  town.  In 
our  earlier  history  an  inferior  quality  of  earthen- ware  was 
made  here,  and  subsequently  w^ooden-w^are  of  various  descrip- 
tions was  manufactured.  We  have  had  cotton-mills  and  nu- 
merous tanneries.  We  have  had  carding-mills  and  fullin^- 
mills.  We  have  been  able  to  Ijoast  of  saddlers  and  coopers,  cif 
tail(M's  and  hatters.  Once  Suffield  had  her  printing-press  and  j)ub- 
lishcd  books,  papers,  and  pamphlets.  Once  the  stranger  within 
her  gates  would  not  have  been  perplexed  to  find  a  house  of  public 
entertainment,  for  the  time  has  been  when  SuOield  had  ten  or 
twelve  taverns  in  active  operation.  Previous  to  the  last  half- 
century  evei-y  fiirm-house  w\as  a  mauufactor}^,  in  which  were 
produced,  with  laborious  and  cunning  industry,  the  textile  fah- 
rics  for  the  household.     In  one  3^ear  more  than  five  thousand 


•48 

yards  of  woolen  cloth  were  thus  manufactured.  At  the  same 
time  twenty  or  twenty-live  thousand  pounds  of  llax  were  yearly 
required  for  domestic  consumption. 

The  ]nore  we  stud}^  tlie  industries  of  the  last  century,  the 
more  evident  it  becomes  that  the  people  were  far  in  advance  of 
the  present  century  in  enterprise  and  public  spirit.  Suflield 
was  then  a  business  centre  for  the  surrounding  country,  ranking 
nearly  on  an  equality  with  Hartford  in  wealth,  population,  and 
business  activity.  .  Now  she  has  fallen  into  comparative  insig- 
nificance. Formerly  the  capital  and  enei'gies  of  her  people  were 
so  employed  as  to  build  up  the  town  and  promote  the  prosperity 
of  all  its  citizens.  On  the  other  hand,  we  now  behold  that  cap- 
ital transferred  to  distant  cities  and  states,  and  invested  in  com- 
mercial and  business  enterprises  that  do  not  develop  tlie  town 
or  yield  an^^  general  advantage  to  our  own  community.  If  we 
have  had  a  reason  for  this  in  the  past,  the  long-deferred  estab- 
lishment of  railroad  communication  has  removed  it.  And  now 
the  present  genei'ation  has  the  opportunity  and  the  means  to 
establish  successful  manufactures  and  other  branches  of  busi- 
ness tliat  shall  start  the  town  in  a  new  career  of  prosperity. 

Two  law  schools  have  at  different  times  been  conducted  in 
Suffield,  one  by  General  Lyman,  and  one  by  the  Honorable 
Gideon  Granger.  At  these  schools  many  distinguished  mem- 
bers of  the  bar  in  this  and  surrounding  counties  received  their 
legal  instruction.  In  the  early  part  of  the  present  century, 
Suffield  possessed  five  practicing  lawyers,  a  circumstance  which 
would  seem  to  indicate  a  high  degree  of  prosperity. 

Suffield  has  given  birth  to  many  eminent  men.  She  has  pro- 
duced two  Postmaster  Generals*  of  the  United  States,  four 
members  of  Congress,  one  Major  General,  one  Governor  of 
Connecticut,  two  Governors  of  Vermont,  two  Governors  of 
Pennsylvania,  one  Governor  of  Ohio,  two  Judges  of  the  Su- 
preme Court  of  Ohio,  one  Judge  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  Ver- 
mont, and  one  District  Judge  of  the  United  States.  To-day 
her  sons  are  scattered  throughout  the  country.  Many  of  them 
have  achieved  substantial  success  in  business  or  professional 
life,  and   many  of  them  occupy  distinguished  positions  of  re- 

*  Sec  note  at  close  of  this  article. 


49 

sponsibility  and  trust  in  the  national,  state,  and  niunieipal  gov 
ernnients  of  tlic  eonntiy. 


IMius  far  I  have  cndt}avored  to  sketeli  our  outward  and  ma- 
terial progress  from  the  foundation  of  the  town  to  the  close  of 
the  last  century.  And  now  a  brief  comparison  of  the  condition 
of  our  people  in  the  present  and  in  the  past,  in  respect  to  some 
of  the  more  important  elements  of  life  and  character,  may  not 
be  uninteresting. 

The  most  superficial  glance  at  our  history  shows  beyond 
question  that  in  material  wealth  and  comforts,  in  the  develop- 
jnent  of  tlie  powers  and  resources  of  nature,  in  the  multiplica- 
tion of  mechanical  inventions,  in  facilities  of  communication 
and  travel,  in  all  physical  surroundings  of  whatever  nature,  we 
have  attained  a  vast  superiority  over  our  ancestors.  There 
have  been  great  changes  and  revolutions,  and  they  have  resulted 
in  an  apparent  progress.  But  has  there  been  a  real  and  a  true 
progress?  Have  we  attained  a  nobler  development  of  charac- 
ter? Do  we  live  more  perfect  and  more  Christian  lives?  Do 
we  exhibit  a  higher  standard  of  manhood  and  womanhood  ? 
For  a  progress  which  does  not  produce  tliese  results,  which  does 
not  enlarge,  enrich,  and  ennoble  man  in  the  essential  and  immor- 
tal elements  of  his  nature,  is  false  and  delusive.  While,  therefore, 
we  have  taken  such  immense  strides  in  the  outward  and  mate- 
rial circumstances  of  life,  it  becomes  very  pei'tinent  for  us  to 
enrpiire  whether  we  are  also  more  manly  and  more  womanlj^, 
whether  we  are  distinguished  by  a  superior  moral,  religious,  and 
intellectual  development.  To  answer  these  questions  will  in- 
volve a  more  critical  examination  of  our  history  in  its  bearings 
upon  our  interior  life  and  character. 

And  first  a  preliminary  enquiry  as  to  our  physical  nature. 
The  common  impression,  especially  among  the  older  inhabi- 
tants is,  that  wc  have  sadly  degenerated  in  this  respect.  But 
this  impression,  so  far  as  it  is  confined  to  our  elders,  may  readily 
be  accounted  for.  As  men  grow  old  they  lose  strength,  vigoj-, 
and  vivacit^^  Tlie  arm  becomes  feeble  and  the  step  uncertain. 
Feats  of  agility  and  strength  4hat  were  once  performed  with 
ease,  become  difficult  or  impossible.    And  in  consequence  of  this 


60 

condition  of  weakness  and  imbecility,  tlieir  impressions  of  the 
world  around  them  are  modilied  and  distorted  into  a  conformity 
with  their  own  individual  states  and  experiences.  The  change 
which  they  imagine  has  taken  place  \n  the  world  without,  has 
really  taken  place  in  themselves.  But  while  this  reasoning  may 
account  for  the  impressions  of  old  men,  it  does  not  definitely 
answer  the  enquiry  we  have  raised,  whether  in  point  of  fact  we 
have  degenerated  physically.  In  respect  to  direct  physical 
power,  to  mere  brute  force,  we  undoubtedly  have.  But  while 
we  admit  this  against  ourselves,  the  force  of  the  admission  is 
destroyed  by  the  following  considerations:  First,  the  degree  of 
physical  power  is  no  measure  of  phj'sical  excellence.  A  person 
of  inferior  stature  and  strength  may  be  just  as  manly,  may  ac- 
complish just  as  extensive  and  noble  results  in  life,  and  may  as 
completely  fulfill  the  ends  of  human  existence,  as  if  possessed 
of  the  most  gigantic  bodily  powers.  And  again  we  have  so  de- 
veloped and  applied  the  powers  and  forces  of  nature,  and  ren- 
dered them  subservient  to  our  interests  and  obedient  to  our 
commands,,  that  great  physical  powers  are  hardly  useful  and  no 
longer  necessary  to  man.  In  all  departments  of  industry,  in 
agriculture,  in  the  mechanical  trades,  in  manufactures,  in  com- 
merce, we  can,  with  a  given  number  of  men,  and  in  a  given 
time,  by  the  aid  of  modern  appliances,  accomplish  vastly  greater 
results  than  could  our  ancestors  a  hundred  years  ago.  Every 
day  and  on  every  hand  we  give  exhibitions  of  power  which 
would  fill  our  fathers  with  speechless  amazement.  Great  phys- 
ical strength,  therefore,  we  do  not  need,  and  the  lack  of  it  is 
not  a  reproach.  In  regard  to  physical  endurance  and  hardi- 
hood, and  ability  to  withstand  exposure,  privation,  and  fatigue, 
the  experiences  of  every  day  around  us,  and  especially  the  his- 
tory of  the  late  war,  prove  that  we  are  fully  equal  if  not  supe- 
rior to  our  predecessors.  JNIoreover,  in  all  civilized  countries 
the  average  duration  of  human  life  is  slowly  increasing.  There 
is  no  evidence  which  indicates  that  Suflleld  is  an  exception  to 
the  general  rule.  With  life  prolonged,  with  equal  bodily  en- 
durance, with  strength  suflicient  to  meet  the  demands  of  our 
present  civilization,  and  with  less  vital  energy  absorbed  in  mus- 
cular growth  and  activity,  we#may  safely  assert  that  we  are 
physically   better   fitted   than   were   our  fathers    before  us  to 


51 

achieve  material  success  in  the  world,  and  for  Letter  (|iialifiecl  to 
gain  the  higher  ends  of  a  true  human  life. 

I  pass  next  to  the  subject  of  education.  Jt  will  be  remem- 
bered that  at  the  very  first  meeting  of  the  committee  appointed 
to  su})crintend  the  nffairs  of  the  plantation,  held  in  January, 
1671,  an  allotment  of  forty  acres  of  land  was  set  apart  for  the 
"  Supi^ort  and  maintenance  of  a  School,  to  continue  and  be  Im- 
proved for  and  to  that  use  forever,  without  any  alienation  there- 
from."' At  the  first  town  meeting  of  Saffield,  held  in  1682,  a 
Mr.  Trowbridge  was  invited  to  teach  school  in  Suflield,  but 
there  is  no  evidence  that  he  ever  came.  In  1693  the  town 
voted  to  use  its  utmost  endeavor  to  procure  a  schoolmaster  "  to 
teach  children  and  youth  to  read,  write,  and  cypher."  A  lit- 
tle later  in  the  same  3^ear  it  was  decided  to  locate  the  school  at 
the  most  convenient  place  on  High  street.  But  it  was  not  until 
May,  16i)6,  twenty-six  j'ears  after  the  foundation  of  the  town, 
tliat  a  school  was  actually  begun.  Mr.  Anthony  Austin, 
though  not  without  some  misgiving,  undertook  the  vocation  of 
teacher,  receiving  a  salary  of  twenty  pounds  per  year.  In  1703 
tlic  first  school-house  was  erected,  near  the  church  on  the  green, 
and  the  dimensions  were  twenty  feet  long,  sixteen  feet  wide,  and 
six  feet  high.  In  17-10  the  school  was  held  in  West  Sufiield, 
such  a  proportion  of  the  time  as  its  rates  bore  to  the  rates  of 
the  whole  town.  Soon  after  a  school  was  regularly  taught  in 
the  west  parish.  At  this  period  the  schools  were  under  the 
management  of  the  ecclesiastical  societies,  of  which  there  were 
now  two,  the  east  and  the  west.  Under  their  supervision  the 
town  was  divided  into  districts,  the  cast  parish  in  1763,  and  the 
west  parish  somewhat  earlier.  Reading,  writing,  and  arithmetic 
made  up  the  curriculnm  of  the  pioneer  schools,  but  gradually 
one  branch  after  another  has  been  introduced,  until  now  it  is 
quite  possible  to  obtain  at  our  common  scliools  what  would,  in 
the  early  times,  have  been  regarded  as  a  liberal  education.  Tlie 
foimdation  and  develo[)ment  of  the  Connecticut  Literary  Insti- 
tution in  the  present  century  has  conferred  upon  Sufficld  supe- 
rior facilities  for  education  and  culture.  It  is  possible  today  to 
obtain  a  better  education  within  the  limits  of  our  own  town 
than  could  have  been  hail  a  century  ago  at  Yale  or  Harvard. 
There  can  be  no  donbt  but  tliat  the  standard  of  education  and 
seiiohirsliip  exliibiled  by  tlie  })resent  generation  is  far  in  advance 

17510 


62 

of  tliat  exhibited  in  the  last  centuiy.  If  a  doubt  exists,  it  will 
be  dispelled  by  perusing  the  documents  and  records  that  have 
come  down  to  us  from  that  time. ,  In  an  examination  of  one  of 
these  documents  we  almost  uniformly  observe  that  there  is  no 
system  in  the  use  of  capitals,  which  are  distributed  promis- 
cuously over  the  page,  without  regard  to  parts  of  speech  or  em- 
phasis of  words ;  that  no  standard  of  orthography  is  observed, 
the  same  word  being  frequently  spelled  in  a  variety  of  waj-s  on 
the  same  page,  and  words  of  the  same  pronunciation,  but  of  dif- 
ferent orthography  and  import,  being  often  erroneously  and 
sometimes  absurdly  interchauged ;  and  finally,  that  there  are 
most  glaring  mistakes  and  deficiencies  in  grammar  and  rhetoric. 
When  we  consider  that  these  old  manuscripts  were  many  of 
them  written  by  the  prominent  men  of  the  time,  it  becomes 
quite  impossible  to  conceive  the  low  degree  of  culture  exhibited 
by  the  average  citizen.  But  we  are  not  to  suppose  that  our  an- 
cestors were  as  inferior  to  us  in  intellectual  power,  activity,  and 
acumen  as  they  were  in  the  culture  derived  from  schools  and 
books.  It  is  certain  that  our  advancement  in  these  respects  has 
not  kept  pace  with  the  multiplication  and  improvement  of  our 
facilities,  and  whether  we  have  adv^anced  at  all  may  be  a  ques- 
tion— for  power,  originality,  and  scope  of  intellect  do  not  de- 
pend so  much  upon  artificial  training  as  upon  the  primary  con- 
stitution of  the  individual  and  the  practical  experiences  of  his 
life.  But  when  we  consider  that  we  are  now  better  educated, 
that  we  jjossess  a  wider  range  of  facts  and  experience,  that  facts 
excite  reflection  and  reflection  reason — when  we  coiisidcr  that 
the  condition  of  society  is  now  more  favorable  to  intellectual 
growth  by  reason  of  its  greater  compactness  and  increased  facil- 
ities of  intercommunication — when  we  consider  that  less  vitality, 
and  strength,  and  time  are  required  to  meet  the  physical  de- 
mands of  our  present  mode  of  life — when  we  consider  these 
circumstances,  and  many  others  which  might  be  enumerated,  we 
seem  warranted  in  the  conclusion  that  we  not  only  possess  now 
more  extensive,  more  varied,  and  more  accurate  knowledge,  and 
more  thorough  and  more  liberal  education,  but  that  we  also  ex- 
hil)it  more  acute  and  more  profound  intcHectual  powers. 

In  respect  to  the  comparative   state  of  morals  in  Sufheld  in 
the  present  and  in  tlie  past,  we  have  very  imperfect  data  from 


53 

which  to  judge.  But  judging  from  these  d.ata,  the  plain  con- 
clusion is  tliat  in  nearly  all  respects  we  can  show  a  commenda- 
ble improvement.  In  the  last  century  intoxicating  liquors  were 
openly  and  freely  used  by  the  leading  men  of  the  place.  They 
were  accounted  as  among  the  necessaries  of  life.  In  1749,  at  a 
society  meeting,  the  church  voted  "  that  the  committee  should 
provide  Rhum,  Cyder,  and  Beer  for  Raising  the  new  meeting 
house,  at  their  discretion."  This  vote  indicates  the  state  of  feel- 
ing on  the  subject,  and  is  a  fair  sample  of  the  ancient  customs 
in  this  respect.  At  all  extra  occasions  where  men  came  to- 
gether for  co-operative  labor,  and  in  all  the  severer  tasks  of  the 
farmer  and  mechanic,  spirituous  liquors  were  a  matter  of  course. 
Social  gatherings,  even  of  ministers,  were  not  comjilete  without 
their  presence.  The  free  and  unrestricted  use  of  this  dangerous 
beverage  produced  its  natural  results.  The  moral  vigor  of  the 
community  was  relaxed  and  the  moral  judgment  impaired.  In- 
temperance itself  was  regarded  more  as  an  innocent  misfortune 
tlian  as  a  moral  degradation,  for  which  the  individual  is  strictly 
accountable.  To  day,  not  only  do  we  witness  less  intemperance, 
but  the  open  use  of  alcoholic  liquors  is  regarded  as  a  stigma 
and  disgrace. 

In  business  and  the  business  relations  of  men,  there  is  un- 
doubtedly less  of  sham  and  imposition,  less  of  duplicity  and 
deception  and  chicanery,  than  in  any  preceding  age  of  our  his- 
tory, in  proportion  to  the  number  and  wealth  of  the  inhab- 
itants. And  in  that  higher  field  of  moi'ality,  in  that  morality 
which  is  positive  and  aggressive,  and  wliich  exhibits  itself  in 
the  practice  of  charity  and  benevolence,  and  in  the  promotion 
of  all  good  and  noble  works  and  enterprises,  there  are  to-day  as 
high  an  average  and  as  bright  examples  as  any  age  of  the  past 
can  boast. 

The  vices  of  the  [)rcseiit  day  are  ever  baforc  us,  iinpressing 
themselves  on  the  thoughts  and  imagination,  while  those  of  the 
past  are  unknown  or  forgotten.  Moreover,  when  we  look  back 
over  our  own  Yitcs  we  shall  find  that  we  are  inclined  to  remem- 
ber the  good  and  to  forget  the  bad,  to  remember  the  joys  and  to 
forget  the  sorrow.s.  And  what  is  true  of  the  individual  may  be 
true  of  the  race  or  of  a  community.  As  a  people,  we  are  prone 
both  to  magnify  the  lujble  and  valiant  deeds  of  our  fathers,  and 


54 

also  to  forget  or  palliate  their  faults  and  vices.  Oar  impressions^ 
therefore,  as  to  morals  and  the  course  they  have  taken  in  the 
progress  of  the  town,  are  not  to  be  trusted.  Careful  investiga- 
tion is  necessary  to  a  safe  and  correct  opinion,  and  such  inves- 
tigation will  confirm  the  view  that  we  are  progressing,  and  are 
progressing  in  the  right  direction. 


Passing  now  to  the  field  of  music  and  art,  and  to  the  refine- 
ments and  accomplishments  of  life,  we  find  them  to  be  almost 
entirely  the  growth  of  the  present  century.  But  our  ancestors 
may  be  pardoned  for  their  deficiencies  in  this  respect.  They 
were  pioneers  in  a  new  world  and  a  ruder  age  than  the  present. 
All  the  tendencies  of  their  situation  were  towards  the  develop- 
ment of  rude  physical  characters.  Theirs  was  an  unceasing 
and  imperative  struggle  for  mere  subsistence,  without  the  pos- 
sibihty  of  turning  aside  to  cultivate  the  amenities  of  life. 

Music  in  the  early  part  of  our  history  was  almost  totally 
neglected.  Tiideed,  the  Puritans  regarded  it  with  distrust  and 
hostility,  and  would  not  for  many  years  permit  it  in  religious 
worship.  Being  neglected,  therefore,  from  lack  of  opportunity 
and  inclination,  and  distrusted  out  of  principle,  it  could  make 
but  slow  progress.  It  is  mainly  in  the  last  half  or  quarter  of  a 
century  that  it  has  been  cultivated  and  promoted  in  this  town. 
Now  almost  every  family  has  its  musical  instrument,  and 
almost  every  child  has  some  opportunity  for  musical  instruc- 
tion. Painting  and  drawing  have  lately  begun  to  attract  at' 
tention,  and  Sufiield  has  already  produced  some  artists,  who 
are  laboring  with  credit  and  success.  The  acquisition  of 
all  these  accomplisliments  should  be  publicly  encouraged,  for 
they  not  onl}^  minister  to  the  finer  attributes  of  our  nature,  but 
are  of  both  direct  and  indirect  practical  utility. 

In  the  architecture  of  private  and  public  buildings  there  have 
been  great  changes.  The  last  century  was  the  period  of  low 
houses,  with  large  rooms,  timbered  ceilings,  .high  roofs,  and 
projecting  stories.  In  their  construction  and  finish  the  object 
sought  was  not,  except  in  rare  instances,  to  produce  a  pleasing 
effect  upon  the  taste  and  imagination,  but  simply  to  secure  pro- 
tection from  tlie  inclemencies  of  the  weather  and  provide  ac- 
commodations for  physical  living. 


55 

To  day  wc  possess  private  residences  and  public  buildings 
that  are  an  ornament  and  credit  to  the  town.  Every  )'ear  more 
and  more  attention  is  being  given  to  the  stjde  and  finish  of  ])ri- 
vate  dwellings,  and  to  the  character  of  their  surroundings  and 
appointments.  It  should  be  remembered  that  the  object  of  a 
home  is  n:»t  merely  physical  comfort,  not  simply  to  furnish  a 
convenient  and  safe  i-esort  to  rest  and  refresh  the  body  ;  it 
should,  in  its  architecture  and  surroundings,  respond  to  the  in- 
tellectual and  u'sthetic  qualities  of  the  mind.  It  should  be  a 
place  where  the  higher  and  nobler  attributes  of  man,  his  im- 
mortal attributes,  shall  find  true  expression,  and  where  they  shall 
be  improved  and  inspired. 


Ill  this  brief  survey  of  our  hist(jry,  and  in  this  imperfect  com- 
parison of  the  civilization  of  Sufficld  in  the  past  with  that  in 
the  present,  it  has  been  my  aim  to  present  the  truth.  And 
while  I  have  endeavored  to  give  full  credit  and  prominence  to 
the  noble  deeds  and  sacrifices  of  our  flithers,  I  have  not  shrunk 
from  exposing  their  imperfections  and  vices.  And  now  I  think 
we  may  safely  conclude  that  in  all  the  essential  elements  of  char- 
acter, in  all  that  goes  to  make  np  true  manhood  and  woman- 
hood, the  jiresent  age  has  attained  a  decided  superiority.  But 
in  this  claim  there  is  no  detraction  from  the  merit  of  our 
fathers,  and  nothing  inconsistent  with  an  obligation  to  venerate 
their  memory.  If  they  could  look  down  upon  us  to-day,  no 
ascriptions  of  praise  from  our  lips,  and  no  services  commemo- 
rative of  their  lives,  would  afford  them  so  much  pleasure  and 
satisflxctipn  as  to  behold  us,  their  descendants  and  their  children, 
far  advanced  beyond  the  condition  in  which  they  lived,  to  be- 
hold us  })rosperous  and  happy  in  our  outward  circumstances, 
and  strong,  and  noble,  and  upright  in  character.  These  are  the 
very  results  for  which  they  labored,  the  ol)jects  for  wdiich  they 
))rayed,  and  ho})ed,  and  sacrificed.  In  doubt  and  darkness,  in 
weariness  and  peril,  in  privation  and  sulTering,  our  fathers 
})lanted  the  seed  of  our  present  civilization  ;  in  peace  and  pros- 
perity, in  the  midst  of  all  happy,  and  inspiring,  and  propitious 
circumstances,    we  are   reaping  the  glorious  results.     When  I 


56 

tbink  over  the  first  hundred  years  of  their  history,  of  the  hard, 
toilsome,  rugged  lives  they  lead,  hedged  in  on  every  side  by 
vast  and  pathless  forests,  destitute  of  all  the  comforts  and  refine- 
ments of  life,  condemned  to  one  unbroken,  monotonous  routine 
of  manual  labor,  with  no  books  or  papers,  or  intellectual  ad- 
vantages, and  when  I  think  how  freely  and  bountifully  we  en- 
joy the  fruits  of  all  their  hardships,  and  struggles,  and  priva- 
tions, their  story  touches  my  heart  with  an  infinite  pathos,  these 
places  that  were  once  familiar  with  their  presence  are  made  for- 
ever sacred  by  the  con«;ecration  of  their  lives,  and  the  graves 
where  their  bones  are  crumbling  into  dust  become  shrines  where 
my  soul  goes  up  to  worship,  and  where  my  heart  pours  out  its 
richest  libations. 


But  it  is  fitting  f(jr  us  on  this  occasion  to  remember  that  there 
is  a  present  and  a  future  as  well  as  a  past.  A  hundred  years  from 
to-day  we  may  fairly  presume  our  descendants  will  be  gathered 
on  this  spot  and  engaged  in  similar  festivities.  The  circum- 
stances under  which  they  shall  meet  may  depend  very  much  upon 
us.  It  is  possible  for  us  to  be  largely  instrumental  in  shaping 
the  history  of  the  town  for  the  next  century.  It  is  possible, 
also,  for  us  so  to  live  that  we  shall  simply  bridge  the  sjDace  from 
one  generation  to  another,  exerting  no  perceptible  influence 
and  leaving  no  impress  behind  us.  During  the  first  forty  or 
fifty  years  of  the  present  century  our  people  were  too  conserva- 
tive. The  public  spirit  of  the  eighteenth  century  seemed  to 
have  departed,  leaving  behind  a  narrow,  selfish,  short-sighted 
policy  that  proved  fatal  to  the  best  interests  of  the  town.  For 
forty  years  the  town  actually  declined  in  population,  and  in  the 
ratio  of  the  increase  of  wealth.  When  it  was  sought  to  locate 
the  United  States  Armory  here,  our  Aethers,  by  their  opposition 
and  indifference,  defeated  the  endeavor.  When  the  Hartford 
and  Springfield  railroad  was  surveyed  through  the  town,  a 
storm  of  hostility  was  raised  that  drove  it  to  the  other  side  of 
the  river.  Had  the  armory  and  railroad  been  secured,  as  they 
might  have  been  by  proper  exertion,  who  can  tell  how  different 


57 

would  liave  been  out'  history,  and  how  different  the  condition  of 
our  meeting  here  to-day.  It  is  impossible,  as  we  review  the 
past,  to  suppress  a  feeling  of  pain  and  indignation  when  we 
observe  how  the  town  has  been  rubbed  of  a  magnificent,  his- 
tory. But  dismissing  all  vain  regrets  and  resentments,  let  us 
turn  from  the  past,  which  we  are  powerless  to  retrieve,  to  the 
present,  which  is  always  ours  to  improve,  and  to  the  future, 
which  is  ours  to  shape  and  control.  Great  and  unusual  oppor- 
tunities are  within  the  grasp  of  this  generation,  opportunities 
which  if  rightly  improved  will  inaugurate  a  new  era  in  our  his- 
tory. Let  the  errors  and  shortcomings  of  our  fathers  teach 
lis  wisdom.  Let  all  internal  dissensions  and  jealousies  be  sac- 
rificed to  one  united  and  controlling  purpose,  to  promote  the 
welfare  of  our  town.  Let  a  generous  public  spirit  be  fostered 
which  shall  look  beyond  all  merely  private  and  present  inter- 
ests to  grand  results  in  the  future,  even  in  the  future  which  we 
shall  never  live  to  see.  Let  us  have  that  sublime  faith  and  pa- 
tience, and  devotion,  that  shall  enable  us  to  plant,  and  labor, 
and  sacrifice,  when  w^e  know  that  posterity,  and  posterity  onhj^ 
can  reap  the  harvest.  Let  us  go  from  these  memorial  ser^'ices 
and  labor  with  such  wisdom,  such  patience,  such  large-hearted 
and  far-reaching  purpose  for  the  prosperity  of  this  town  and  the 
welfare  of  its  people  that  when  all  these  petty  jealousies  and 
controversies  that  now  excite  us,  and  all  these  petty  schemes  of 
selfish  and  temf)oral  aggrandizement  shall  have  been  buried  in 
eternal  oblivion,  and  when  all  these  fortunes  which  we  are  la- 
boring so  hard  to  amass  shall  have  been  scattered  to  the  winds 
of  heaven,  our  works  shall  yet  survive  to  benefit  and  to  bless 
the  town,  and  our  names  yet  live  in  the  grateful  hearts  of  pos- 
terity, and  so  that  when  our  descendants  shall  gather  here  after 
the  lapse  of  another  century,  our  generation  shall  be  venerated 
as  pre-eminent  among  the  benefactors  of  Suflicld. 


NOTE. 

By  rL-fereiK'c  to  the  bouks  of  the  Aiulitoi's  Oflicc  fur  the  Post  Office  Department 
it  is  ascertained  that  the  post-office  at  Sufficld  hejian  to  make  quarterly  returns 
on  the  1st  of  October,  1796,  and  Ilezeliiah  Huntini;ton  was  the  postmaster.  It  is 
probable,  therefore,  that  the  office  was  established  in  August  or  September  of 
that  year.  Since  that  time  the  names  of  postmasters  and  dates  of  ajjpointments 
are  correctly  ascertained,  which  are  as  follows : 

SuFFiELD.     Established,  probably,  in  August,  17U0. 

William  Gay,  apjjointed  postmaster  July  iilst,  17''JS. 

Odiah  L.  Sheldon,  appointed  April  25th,  lSo5. 

Horace  Sheldon,  2d,  appointed  Feb.  5th,  1841. 

Georj^c  A.  Looniis,  appointed  August  o?st,  1842. 

Samuel  B.  Low,  appointed  July  1st,  1850. 

George  Williston,  appointed  May  33d,  185:]. 

David  Hale,  appointed  June  211th,  ISOI. 

Richard  Jobes,  ap]:)ointed  Julj^Gth,  18()U,  who  is  the  present  incumbent. 

The  following  named  persons,  natives  of  Sulliekl,  have  held  office  as  indicated 
in  the  Post  Office  Department  of  the  United  States: 

Gideon  Gkangeu,  Postmaster  General,  appointed  Nov.  28tli,  1801. 

Fkancis  Guangek,  Postmaster  General,  Appointed  March  0th,  1841. 

Setii  Pease,  Assistant  Postmaster  General. 

James  Hitchcock,  Clerk. 

Harvey  Bestor,  Clerk. 

James  Pease,  Clerk. 

Oliver  Phelps,  Jr.,  Clerk,  living  in  Canandaigua,  N.  Y. 

Gamaliel  Pease,  Clerk. 

Chauuccy  Bestor,  Clerk,  living  iu  Washington  City,  D.  C. 


POEM, 

V>y  S.  D.  PirioLPs,  D.  D. 


Two  IIcNDRKD  Yk.vus!  -vvc'rc  ill  tliG  past  todaj'. 
Where  thoiigbt  and  memory,  fondly  lingering,  stray. 
The  generations  linked  to  us  we  trace  ; 
As  each  appears  beliold  them  face  to  face ; 
Men  of  the  stalwart  heart  and  toiling  hand, 
Women  well  worthy  by  their  side  to  stand, 
Children  the  image  of  their  noble  sires. 
Whose  blood  and  will  the  blended  virtue  fires. 
They  wrought  how  well !  they  made  the  glorious  past : 
From  them  the  treasure  that  all  time  shall  last. 

Two  hundred  years  !  ah,  these  are  now  secure. 

And  naught  can  waste  a  heritage  so  sure. 

We  speak  of  fleeting  ei^ochs,  vanished  days, 

As  airy  nothings  or  a  meteor  blaze. 

Not  merely  shadows  Ave,  nor  vapors  dim — - 

The  dying  echoes  of  a  vesper  hymn. 

The  Springtime  flits,  the  Summer  glories  fade, 

Autnmnal  tints  o'er  all  the  fields  are  lai<l ; 

But  the  rich  harvest  grew ;  in  the  warm  snn 

It  ripened,  and  was  to  the  garner  won. 

Youth's  blooming  years  and  manhood's  stronger  day 

Go  like  the  seasons,  bnt  their  lessons  stay  ! 

No  past  liavc!  we,  the  boon  is  never  ours, 

Till  pal((  and  drop  the  earliest,  fairest  flowers. 

Our  minds  take  not  life's  true  alid  deep  intent. 

Till  from  beyond  we  scan  their  history  spent. 

The  problem's  solved  in  sorrow,  joy  and  toil; 

In  these  we  learn,  and  gather  thence  our  spoil. 

We  lose  the  time,  the  bliss  and  pain  it  brings. 

To  get  them  back  in  deeper,  nobler  things. 

There's  our  true  heritage,  and  naught  can  wrest 

Away  the  glorious  past  when  once  possessed  ; 

Its  precious  lessons,  its  aftections  pure 

Will,  without  change,  for  evermore  endure. 


60 


Oh,  mourning  mother  !  the  sweet  child  you  gave 
So  soon  to  Heaven,  so  early  to  the  grave. 
Is  yours,  a  child  for  ever,  tlirougli  all  change 
Of  earthly  scene,  or  vast  unmeasured  range ! 
A  parting  pang,  a  past — these  were  the  cost 
By  which  you  keep  the  tender  bloom  you  lost. 

Tsvo  hundred  years  !  how  like  a  talc  that's  told 
Each  lengthened  life  on  to  its  limit  rolled. 
The  words  arc  gone,  the  very  sounds  have  died. 
But  lives  the  story  yet — 'twill  e'er  abide. 
In  what  they  were,  in  noble  acts  they  did. 
The  generations  past  can  ne'er  be  hid. 
Our  own  they  are,  because  they're  here  no  more, 
But  with  us  leave  the  mantles  once  they  wore. 
The  richest  wealth,  our  best  emotions  felt, 
Are  wisdoni,  patience,  love,  that  in  them  dwelt. 
Without  the  hallowed  j)ast,  O,  what  were  we  ? 
We  are  the  fruit  of  the  ancestral  tree. 

Upon  life's  ladder  to  a  higher  stage 
Have  we  ascended  in  this  later  age  ? 
Built  from  our  manhood,  with  a  better  art, 
A  grander  temjile  of  the  human  heart  ? 
We'll  not  ignore  the  steps,  moss-grown  and  grey, 
Nor  scorn  the  scaffolding  that  falls  away. 
As  well  the  lake,  from  its  full  crystal  bed, 
Disdain  the  humble  streams  by  which  'tis  fed. 
The  tree,  to  large  and  fine  proportions  grown, 
Was  nursed  by  lallen  leaves  and  boughs  its  own  ; 
From  its  decays  a  broader  verdure  sjjrings, 
And  richer  fruit  on  every  branchlet  swings. 
With  this  great  law  humanity  is  rife — 
From  ashes  beauty  and  from  death  comes  life. 
In  us,  through  laljors,  sufferings,  hojies  and  fears. 
Behold  the  harvest  of  two  hundred  years  ! 

The  field  is  beautiful  whereon  it  grew, 

Erst  Soxitlijield  called,  the  time  its  bounds  were  new. 

But  earlier  still  it  had  its  Indian  names. 

Too  rough  to  jjlace  in  smooth,  poetic  frames ; 

Then,  as  its  winding  pathways  white  men  took, 

They  named  the  region  from  its  "  Stony  brook." 

From  the  *'  Great  River,"  at  its  eastern  bound, 

It  spreads  abroad  in  undulating  ground, 

Sweeps  the  bold  range  of  Talcott  Mountain's  crest, 

And  on  the  Manituck  it  finds  a  rest. 


61 

These  w'M  and  almost  trackless  solitiules 

Bore  on  their  bosom  the  primeval  woods  ; 

The  sturdy  oak,  like  pillars  of  the  realm, 

Vied  with  the  grandeur  of  the  gothic  elm  ; 

Birch,  maple,  chestnut,  ash,  and  more  like  tliese 

Made  the  vast  army  of  majestic  trees; 

While  here  and  there,  along  the  serried  lines. 

Stood,  like  brave  chieftains,  tall  and  tufted  pines. 

How  fierce  the  battle  when  the  winter  tempest  loud 

Swept  through  the  ranks  and  the  stern  leaders  bowed  ! 

No  wonder  those  who  early  sought  a  farm 

Should  from  this  mighty  legion  take  alarm, 

And  say,  as  courage  failed  to  enter  in, 

"A  very  woody  place  and  difficult  to  winne." 

Others,  of  braver  hearts  and  stronger  hands, 

Began  the  conquest  of  these  forest  lands. 

They  felled  the  foe  ;  they  reared  their  humble  homes; 

Tiiey  knew  through  patient  toil  the  victory  comes. 

Was  it  from  stock  thus  trained  and  strong,  the  fame 

Of  Suffield  enterprise  and  people  came. 

Known  the  land  over  for  their  Yankee  skill. 

Shrewdness  of  intellect  and  power  of  will? 

Or  was't  because  we  bordered  on  the  State 

Of  Massachusetts,  long  renowned  and  great, 

Were  held  by  her  for  threescore  years  or  more. 

Until  at  length,  all  disputations  o'er. 

Its  wish  and  right  secured,  the  town  was  put 

Within  the  lines  of  old  Connecticut; 

And  so  its  people  reached  their  virtues  great, 

The  lilended  product  of  each  noble  State  ? 

Two  hundred  years  !  and  how  does  Beauty  crown 
The  whole  broad  surface  of  our  lovely  town. 
What  thrifty  farms,  and  tasteful  dwellings  fair; 
What  well-tilled  fields  return  their  harvests  rare. 
Look  from  this  hill,  or  yonder  ridge  more  high, 
Enchanting  landscapes  meet  the  gladdened  eye  ; 
The  rising  ground,  the  intervening  vales. 
The  fruitfulness  that  everywhere  prevails. 
The  crystal  streams  that  thread  their  way  and  sing, 
The  lingering  trees  that  grateful  shadows  tling. 
The  cheerful  homes  that  speak  of  wealth  and  art, 
And  richer  treasures  of  the  cultured  heart ; 
O  happy  spot  and  dear!  go  where  we  will, 
This  scene  of  beauty  lives,  unrivaled  still ! 


62 

Scarce  had  the  settlers  liere  their  cabhis  placed, 

Ere  tlie  first  meeting  house  the  common  graced. 

Afar,  along  the  ample  street  each  way, 

This  humble  building  in  the  vision  lay. 

As  nigh  the  holy  hour  of  worship  drew, 

Waved  from  the  roof  a  flag  of  crimson  hue  ; 

It  bade  them  come,  the  aged  and  the  young, 

And  jjraise  their  Maker  with  the  heart  and  tong  le  ; 

Not  with  the  ecpiipage  of  modern  clays, 

Not  e'en  the  wagon  rude  or  richer  chaise. 

But  in  pedestrian  groups  who  near  abide, 

Tliose  from  a  distance  in  their  saddles  ride; 

Nor  failed  the  loving  spouse,  with  willing  mind. 

To  take  a  pillion-seat  her  lord  behind. 

While  boys  and  girls,  to  hardy  lives  inured. 

With  nimble  feet  the  Sabbath  walks  endured. 

So  for  a  hundred  years  the.se  i)atlis  they  trod, 

And  thus  together  sought  the  House  of  God, 

Till  generations  i^assed,  and  others  came 

To  feel  the  warmth  of  the  dear  altar-flame. 

Till  sanctuaries  old  and  strait  decayed, 

And  others  rose  in  ampler  art  arrayed. 

After  the  first  they  fitly  graced  the  hill 

Crowned  by  the  splendid  church  this  day  we  fill. 

Beside  the  third — which  often  met  my  eye — 
Before  'twas  finished,  'neatli  the  open  sky. 
The  wondrous  Whitefield  preached  to  thousands  there ; 
First  on  a  joiner's  bench  he  knelt  in  i3rayer. 
And  such  the  unction  and  the  fervor  given, 
He  seemed,  tradition  says,  to  pierce  the  heaven ; 
And  such  the  sermon's  power  that  ere  he'd  done, 
The  hearts  of  many  to  the  Lord  were  won. 

As  passed  the  years  another  order  grew. 

And  to  its  humble  home  adherents  drew ; 

Then,  in  an  ampler  temple  o'er  the  way, 

It  flourished  well  and  is  a  power  to-day. 

These  honored  churches,  ranged  each  side  the  street. 

Sing  the  same  songs,  the  same  good  news  repeat : 

As  richest  blessings  crown  them  from  above, 

Br  they,  though  differing  still,  alike  in  love. 

Two  hundred  years!     How  faitlifully  liave  wrought 
God's  ministers,  as  precious  souls  they  sought, 


FIRST  CnURCH  ERECTED  IN  SFFFIELD, 
About  IGSO. 


Extract  from  the  Town  Records,  April  6,  16S5:— "That  the  Townsmen  shall  npon  ye  townes'  cost 
procure  a  ladder  and  alsoe  a  red  tiagg  to  hang  out  for  a  signe  that  persons  may  know  the  time 
for  assemblins  toirethir'r." 


63 

From  Pastor  Kuollks,*  of  the  earliost  fold, 

To  those  who  now  the  sacred  ollicc  hold. 

YouNGLOVE  *  is  with  us  still,  and  no  age  knows ; 

Remains  Devotion,*  and  the  fervor  glows  ; 

In  long  Gay  *  times,  Avith  Ebenezers  raised, 

Our  Hastings*  have  been  heavenward — God  be  praiscsd  ! 

Forgive  the  tempted  i)en  to  pun  these  names, 

Portraits  beloved  in  memory's  sacred  frames. 

How  much  is  due  to  them,  their  toils  and  ]iniycrs, 

The  seed  they  sowed  and  watched  with  tears  and  cares: 

From  thence  the  richest  fruitage  of  the  past — 

The  purest  blessings  that  shall  longest  last. 

How,  in  my  earliest  memories  linger  yet 

Those  holy  men  my  youthful  vision  met; 

Dear  reverend  forms  and  voice  of  solemn  sound  ; 

I  listened,  and  was  filled  with  awe  profound. 

The  texts  of  Waldo,*  simple,  earnest,  clear ; 

Of  Mix,*  who,  oft  pathetic,  dropi)ed  a  tear; 

Of  MoKSE,*  so  tender  and  so  warm  in  heart, 

Are  still  in  mind,  nor  shall  they  ere  depart. 

The  last  was  the  first  pastor  known  to  me; 

Oft  when  a  child  I  sat  upon  his  knee  ; 

See  now  Lis  snowy  hair  and  radiant  face, 

As  in  the  pulpit  high  lie  took  his  place. 

And  oft  with  simple  elocpience  would  tlirill 

The  throng  in  the  old  church  on  Zion's  Hill. 

From  my  small  prison,  near  tjie  center  aisle, 

A  deep,  square  i:)ew,  I  watched  him  for  awhile. 

Then,  standing  on  tlic  seat,  I  twirled  the  slats. 

Or  through  them  jieeked  and  pranked  with  neiglil)oring  brats  : 

And  then  I  liad  a  curious  strong  desire 

To  see  and  hear  the  jfitch-pijie  of  the  choir. 

Tlie  leader,  with  liis  mystic  box  in  hand, 

Came  to  the  front  and  took  his  proper  stand, 

liaised  the  queer  instrument  and  l)lew  his  toot, 

That  each  might  catch  the  key  and  follow  suit. 

No  organ,  with  its  soft  or  thundering  tone. 

Led  our  high  praises  to  the  Heavenly  Throne ; 

'Twas  deemed,  if  not  profane,  quite  out  of  i)lace, 

And  sounding  viols  were  intensely  Jxiac 

I  see  them — in  the  gallery  front  they  rise. 

And  slightly  turn  their  faces  to  the  skies — 

Young  men  in  Sunday  best  and  well-kempt  hair, 

Maidens'  bright  checks  from  which  the  bonnets  Hare; 

*  See  Notes  at  the  close  of  tlic  Poem. 


Witli  earnest  heart  and  unartistic  voice 
They  sang  the  hymns  that  made  us  all  rejoice. 
Those  plaintive  tunes,  how  deep  the  minor  roll 
That  thrilled  like  harps  of  heaven  the  pensive  soul ! 
Born  on  this  soil,  as  sweet  and  wierd  was  one — 
"C7//«rt" — as  music  of  a  dying  Swan.* 

Till'  mental  culture  of  the  rishig  youth, 

Their  early  need  of  elemental  truth 

Impressed  our  thoughtful  fathers,  and  they  laid 

Foundations  as  they  could  the  work  to  aid  : 

Hence  the  free  school,  and  Master  Austin!  well 

Taught  how  to  read  and  cypher,  write  and  spell. 

The  little  school-house  on  the  common  set. 

The  little  group  that  first  within  it  met. 

The  simple  studies  they  pursued  or  knew, 

The  meagie  textbooks,  unattractive,  few, 

The  treadmill  steps  to  reach  the  lower  hight 

Of  Science'  hill,  so  faintly  then  in  sight — 

Ah  I  as  this  olden  scene  to  view  is  brought. 

Think  of  tlie  change  the  passing  years  have  wrougiit ! 

Behold  the  Public  School,  its  throngs  how  fair, 

AVliat  means  of  mental  wealth  and  culture  tliere; 

Behold  the  ampler  range  in  clustered  Halls 

For  those  who  list  to  Learning's  higher  calls  ! 

Two  hundred  years  !     In  our  review  to-day 
Come  the  vast  throngs  that  lived  and  jiassed  away. 
Not  the  mere  outward  show  and  form  of  things. 
We  trace  life's  deeper  stream  and  hidden  springs ; 
Its  earnest  thoughts  and  conllicts,  hopes  and  fears, 
Its  holiest  loves,  its  tenderness  and  tears  ; 
The  grandest  attributes  of  human  souls. 
In  what  inspires,  impels,  restrains,  controls  ; 
In  all  that  manhood  seeks  of  wealth  and  fame. 
High  nobleness  of  life  and  stainless  name. 
Pursuits  well  worthy  the  immoi-tal  mind, 
A  glorious  benediction  to  mankind. 
Here  they  appeared  and  had  their  day  and  power. 
Rose  in  their  strength  and  found  their  waning  hour. 
Some  mounds  on  yonder  slope  tell  where  they  lie, 
And  some  in  jilaces  far  that  saw  them  die. 


*Timotliy  Swan,  of  Suffielcl,  was  the  composer  of  "China.' 
tAutliony  Austin,  lirst  Schoolmaster  of  tJic  Town. 


G5 


As  the  broad  acres  of  a  forest  deep, 

Ik'iieatli  the  eye's  quick  unduhiting  sweep, 

lievcal,  along  tlie  distant  range  of  sight, 

The  grander  trees  that  reach  a  noisier  hight, 

And  hold  awhile  the  lingering,  gladdened  gaze. 

To  mark  their  verdant  crowns  or  flowering  blaze — 

So  o'er  this  track  of  centuries  to-day 

"We  note  the  men  of  master  minds  and  sway. 

Here  honors  found  them  in  their  native  town, 

Or  elsewhere  gave  them  influence  and  renown. 

In  every  conflict  for  their  country's  right, 

Foremost  they  stand  in  the  ensanguined  flght ; 

Colonial  wars,  and  Independence  time, 

The  later  struggle,  and  the  last  sublime; 

In  all  they  bore  a  true  and  manly  part, 

With  patriot  zeal  and  freedom-loving  heart. 

They're  found  in  civil  life,  law^-learned  and  wise. 

Grasping  with  strength  great  questions  as  they  rise. 

Of  clear  percei)tion  and  forensic  power, 

With  forecast  broad  and  fitness  for  the  hour  ; 

In  the  high  office  and  the  work  it  brings. 

Called  and  commissioned  by  the  King  of  kings ; 

On  varied  fields  their  faithful  labors  blessed. 

Where  many  souls  they  led  to  truth  and  rest ; 

In  healing  arts,  with  ready  skill  and  ken  ; 

In  authorship,  and  wielding  Avell  the  pen. 

Their  names,  as  household  words,  would  I  record. 

And  mete  them  out  a  well-deserved  reward  ; 

But  time  forbids — nor  is  it  needful  now. 

Your  worthy  orator  has  wreathed  each  brow. 

Go  back  to  the  last  century's  closing  years, 

Suftield  among  the  rising  towns  appears, 

A  central  place,  of  wide  extensive  trade, 

Whose  enterprise  its  reputation  made. 

Of  Hartford,  Springfield,  'twas  a  rival  then. 

And  equaled  them  in  influential  men. 

It  had  large  factories  and  Avell  sustained, 

And  artizans  in  skillful  labor  trained. 

If  peddlers  made  their  indigo  of  clay 

They  had  to  find  their  market  far  away. 

It  had  a  Weekly  Press,  of  ample  size. 

And  editorial  talent — 'twould  surprise 

You  now  to  scan  its  files  and  columns  o'er; 

The  names,  the  firms,  the  advertisements  of  yore. 

9 


6Q 


O'er  tlie  wide  laud,  for  liigli  uiid  healthful  toue, 
"  77ie  Impartial  UendiV  was  a  paper  known. 

Dear  native  town !  home  of  my  early  days, 

I'm  glad  to  find  in  thee  so  much  to  praise ; 

So  grand  a  record' in  the  years  gone  l)y ; 

So  much  that  meets  to-day  the  grateful  eye. 

Tliou  art  not  faultless — no,  nor  free  from  stain  ; 

I  would  not  palliate  thy  love  of  gain. 

Nor  spare  tlie  blind  and  narrow  seUishncss 

Tliat's  Ijeen  a  harrier  to  thy  best  success. 

A  generation  since  you  turned  your  back 

On  that  great  thoroughfare  and  iron  track, 

Vv'liich  sought  to  pass  convenient  to  your  door. 

And  had  prosperity  and  wealth  in  store. 

The  long  repentance  of  tliese  tliirty  years, 

In  the  wee  Branch  you've  waited  for,  appears. 

How  lavish  Nature  on  this  ample  ground 

Longs  that  more  marks  of  art  and  taste  be  found  ; 

Where  wealth  and  culture  in  profession  dwell 

Should  public  spirit  be  a  living  well. 

Too  much  of  life's  been  given  to  money  greed, 

As  have  your  lands  to  bear  the  "  filthy  weed." 

IJut  not  severities  my  lines  shall  fill; 

Sufiield,  "  with  all  thy  faults  I  love  thee  still." 

Thy  children  love  thee  wheresoe'er  they  stray  ; 

Come  back  to  prove  their  filial  hearts  to-day. 

God  bless  thee,  mother  dear  of  noble  sons 

And  noble  deeds — the  present,  future  ones 

Be  yet  the  nobler  as  thy  course  appears 

Brighter,  more  bright,  through  all  the  coming  years  I 


NOTES. 

Relatino  to  the  Ministers  llEFEniiEi)  to  on  Page  (Yd. 


Rev.  Bes.iamin  Rughles  was  the  Qist  pastor  in  Suffield.  Tlie  Church  (Con- 
gregational) was  oi-ganizcd  and  lie  ordained  April  26,  16'.t8.  lie  was  born  at  Rox- 
bury,  Mass.,  August  11,  1076.  His  father  was  John  Ruggles,  and  his  grandfather, 
of  the  same  name,  came  from  England  in  168.5.  Benjamin  graduated  from  Harvard 
College  in  16'.).3,  and  two  years  after  came  to  Sufiield.  He  died  September  .5,  1708, 
O.  S.,  at  the  early  age  of  thirty-two.  But  his  hrief  ministry  was  one  of  great  use- 
fulness. His  wife's  death  took  place  a  year  before  his.  Her  maiden  name  was 
Mercy  Woodbridge,  daughter  of  Rev.  John  Woodbridge,  of  Wethersfield,  and 
granddaughter  of  Gov.  William  Leetc.  They  left  seven  children,  and  many  of  their 
descendants  have  filled  honorable  and  useful  positions  both  in  Church  and  State. 

Rev.  John  Younolove  was  the  first  minister  in  Sutllcld.  He  came  from 
Massachusetts  in  1670  or  1680,  and  remained  until  his  death,  Jane  3,  16',»(t.  Not 
much  is  known  of  his  previous  history,  or  of  the  character  of  his  ministry,  and  it 
is  not  certain  whether  he  was  a  college  graduate  or  had  ever  been  ordained.  He 
left  also  seven  chililron,  and  his  widow,  Mrs.  S.irah  Younglove,  survived  him  nearly 
twentj'  years. 

Rev.  EiiENEZEU  Devotion  .succeeded  Mr.  Ruggles  in  the  pastoral  odice.  He 
was  ordained  June  28,  1710,  having  already  been  with  the  church  about  a  year. 
He  was  a  native,  it  is  supposed,  of  Dorchester,  Mass.,  and  graduated  from  Harvard 
College  in  1707.  He  died  April  11,  17-H,  at  the  age  of  fifty-seven,  having  been  pas- 
tor of  the  church  about  thirty-one  years.  His  ministry  was  very  successful,  result- 
ing in  accessions  to  the  church  of  three  hundred  and  thirty-four  persons,  some 
being  received  every  year  with  one  exception.  Mr.  Devotion  was  thrice  man-ied. 
His  two  sons,  Ebenezer  and  John,  became  ministers  of  eminence. 

Rev.  Ebenezer  Gay,  D.  D.,  was  the  next  pastor.  He  was  ordained  January  lo, 
1712.  He  was  an  able  divine,  and  sometimes  in  conversation  showed  a  vein  of 
humor.  It  is  said  when  he  was  a  candi(\ate  for  the  pastoral  otlice,  being  very  slen- 
der at  tluit  time,  some  of  the  people  tliought  he  was  too  spare,  there  was  not 
enough  of  him,  his  legs  were  too  small.  He  met  the  objection  with  a  sermon  from 
the  text;  "He  t'aketh  not  pleasure  in  the  legs  of  a  man."  It  was  a  success,  and 
he  was  harmoniously  settled.  His  long  ministry  of  over  fifty-four  years  was  closed 
by  his  death,  March  7,  1796,  at  the  age  of  seventy-seven.  His  son.  Rev.  Eisenezek 
(jVV,  Jr.,  succeeded  him  in  the  pastorate,  being  ordained  March  6,  171);>.  He  was 
a  graduate  aiul  tutor  of  Yale  College  and  a  fine  scholar,  and  in  his  early  ministry  a 
l)opular  preacher.  His  active  pastorate  continued  until  December  i;>,  1826,  and  he 
was  senior  pastor  until  his  decease,  January  1,  1807,  in  the  seventy-first  year  of  his 
age  and  the  forty-fourth  of  his  ministry.  Early  in  Dr.  (Jay's  pastoi-ate,  November 
10,  1718,  the  Second  Congregational  Church  was  organized  in  the  West  Parish. 
A  few  years  later,  as  an  incidental  result  of  tin;  "  great  awakening,"  others  witii- 
drew,  under  the  lead  of  Joseph  Hastings,  and  furnied  a  Separate  Church. 

Rev.  Joseph  and  Joirv  H.vstinos,  fiither  and  son,  were  tiie  first  Ha[)tist  minis- 
ters in  Sullleld.    A  nii-nber  of  the  Separates  became  Baptists,  and  the  First  Baptist 


68 

Church  was  constituted  in  17G9,  with  Rev.  Josepli  Hastings  as  pastor.  It  was 
located  on  Hastings'  or  Zion's  Hill.  Rev.  John  Hastings  was  ordained  as  co-pastor 
with  his  father  in  177.5,  and  after  his  father's  death  in  1785,  aged  eighty-two,  ho 
continued  in  sole  charge  of  the  church  until  his  own  death,  March  17, 1811,  at  the 
age  of  sixty-ciglit.  Without  a  liberal  education,  he  had  great  mental  vigor  and 
was  an  impressive  and  successful  minister  of  tlic  gospel. 

Rev.  Daniel  Waldo,  a  native  of  Windliam  and  graduate  of  Yale,  was  the  second 
pastor  of  the  Congregational  Church  in  the  West  Parish,  succeeding  Rev.  John 
Graham.  He  was  ordained  May  23,  1793,  and  resigned  his  charge  after  eighteen 
years  of  service.  At  later  times  he  visited  this  people  when  I  heard  him  preach. 
He  died  July  30,  1801,  lacking  hut  a  few  weelcs  of  being  one  hundred  and  two  years 
old.  He  was  a  chaplain  in  Congress  at  the  age  of  ninety-five,  and  preached  his  last 
sermon  after  entering  upon  his  one  hundred  and  second  year. 

Rev.  J.  Mix  was  the  successor  of  Mr.  Waldo  at  West  Suffield,  and  occasionally 
visited  the  school  which  I  attended,  and  preached  in  the  neighborhood. 

Rev.  Asahel  Morse  became  pastor  of  the  First  Baptist  Church  as  the  successor 
of  Rev.  Jolin  Hastings,  in  1812.  He  was  the  son  of  Rev.  Joshua  Morse,  and  was 
born  at  New  London,  (Montville,)  November  11,  1771.  He  preached  in  various 
places,  l)ut  most  of  his  ministerial  life  was  ])assed  in  Suffield.  He  took  consider- 
able interest  in  political  movements,  and  in  1818  was  a  memljer  of  the  convention 
that  framed  the  present  Constitution  of  the  State,  and  drafted  the  article  relating 
to  religious  liberty.  When  a  child,  I  remember  his  frequently  coming  to  my  fatli- 
er's  house,  over  the  mountain,  and  preaching  on  a  Sabbath  or  evening.  He  died 
June  10,  183(i,  in  his  sixty-sixth  year. 


APPENDIX. 

[From  the  Hartford  Times,  Oct.  15,  1870.  J 

SUFFIELD'S  BI-CENTENNIAL. 

The  Celebration  Wedaesdaj^  October  12tli. 

Procession — Decorations— Toasts — Addresses — Poem  —  Music,   and 
THE  DisTiNorisHED  Guests. 

Sufficld  liad  on  Weanesduj%  October  12th,  a  cclel.ration  of  the  SOOtli 
anniversary  of  the  settlement  of  tliat  township.  The  event  had  been 
looked  forward  to  with  pleasure  by  all  the  citizens  of  the  town.  Invita- 
tions had  been  issued  to  many  distinguished  persons  to  take  part  in  the 
,^elebration,  and  the  town  appropriated  funds  for  the  proper  observance 
of  the  day.  A  large  tent  was  erected  on  the  town  green — the  ladies  pre- 
pared their  choicest  viands.  A  programme  was  arranged,  comprising  a 
procession,  firing  of  guns,  and  oratorical  exercises  at  one  of  the  churches, 
and  every  one  anticipated  a  fine  time.  The  clerk  of  the  weather  was  not, 
however,  so  kindly  disposed,  and  instead  of  granting  a  fine,  sunshiny, 
autumn  day,  sent  a  drizzling,  penetrating  rain  tliat  soaked  through 
everybody,  and  cast  a  damper  upon  the  celebration.  It  was  decided  to 
carry  out  the  programme  in  spite  of  the  storm,  and  with  the  exception 
of  the  rain  and  mud  everything  passed  oflT  satisfactorily. 

A  special  train  left  Hartford  at  quarter  past  7  o'clock,  carrying,  among 
others,  ex-Gov.  Jewell,  Gen.  Ilawley,  Dr.  Collins  Stone,  and  many  other 
distinguished  citizens.  At  Windsor  Locks  the  cars  were  switched  upon 
the  new  l)ranch  road  from  that  point  to  Suflield,  it  l)eing  the  first  train 
over  the  road.  Owing  to  the  failure  of  the  contractors  to  complete  an 
iron  bridge,  the  cars  were  obliged  to  stop  about  half  a  mile  from  the  de- 
pot, and  here  carriages  were  provided  for  the  guests,  who  were  mostly 
cared  for  ]>y  privatt;  citizens  of  Suflield.  The  later  trains  added  con- 
siderably to  the  numl)er  present,  and  among  them  came  Gov.  English  and 
part  of  his  siaff". 

the  rnocESSTON 
was  formed   at   9  1-3   o'clock.     A   sjjccial   police   force   led   the  way,  Ibl- 
lovved  by  the  committee  of  arrangements,   tru.stees  and  teachers  of  the 
Connecticut  Litetary  Institute,  the  teacliers  of  the  public  schools,  Colt's 
Band    of    Hartford,  the   president    and    vice-presidents   of  the  day,  the 


70 

clergy,  the  orator  and  the  poet  of  tlie  day,  ex-Governors  Jewell  and 
Havvley,  and  citizens  in  general.  Tlie  procession  i^rocecded  directly  to  the 
new  Congregational  church,  which  was  already  Avell  filled,  and  was 
crowded  before  the  exercises  began. 

THE    DECORATIONS. 

Tlie  church,  wliich  is  a  very  beautiful  edifice,  was  recently  dedicated. 
It  was  built  at  a  cost  of  $72,000,  and  is  very  elegantly  finished  outside 
and  in.  A  fine-toned  organ  occupied  one  end  of  the  sanctuary,  the  pul- 
pit being  in  a  recess  at  the  opposite  end.  The  wood  work  is  entirely  oil 
finished,  and  the  building  tastefully  frescoed.  On  this  occasion  the 
church  was  made  even  more  beautiful  by  the  profuse  disjDlay  of  flowers 
and  evergreens,  which  were  tastefully  arranged.  In  the  recess  of  the  pul- 
pit was  the  inscription  in  large  letters : 


:  WELCOME,  : 

:  1070.  1870.  : 

:         SONS    AND    n.VI'dllTEKS    OF    SUFFIELI).         '. 

In  front  of  the  puljiit  Avas  an  arch  inscribed  ''  Welcome,"  worked  in 
vari-colorcd  flowers,  and  large  Ijouquets  and  baskets  were  placed  at  every 
available  point.  On  each  side  of  the  pulpit  were  hung  portraits  of  the 
Revs.  Ebenczer  Gay,  father  and  son,  former  pastors  of  the  churcli. 
These  were  twined  with  wreaths  of  laurel,  mingled  with  ripe  grainsjjki 
and  in  front  of  each  stood  large  vases  filled  with  autumn  leaves,  sheaves 
of  wheat  and  corn  and  other  grain.  Long  ivy  vines  were  twined  around 
the  altar  lamps.  On  the  communion  table  stood  a  small  bronze  model  of 
the  forefathers'  monument  now  being  erected  on  Plymouth  Rock.  It 
stood  upon  a  base  of  flowers,  and  on  each  side  were  large  t>askets  of  fra- 
grant blossoms. 

On  the  table  lay  a  cane,  sent  from  Minnesota  for  this  occasion.  It  was 
formerly  owned  and  carried  I>y  the  Rev.  Mr.  Younglove,  one  of  the  early 
pastors  of  the  cluirch,  and  is  said  to  iiave  been  )>rought  over  fiom  Eng- 
land in  the  Mayflower. 

DISTINGUISHED    PEUSONS. 

Among  those  present  we  noticed,  besides  Gov.  English,  ex- Govs.  Ilaw- 
ley  and  Jewell ;  Gen.  C.  M.  Ingersoll ;  Rev.  Dr.  D.  Ives,  of  SutKeld  ;  Rev. 
])r.  Joel  Mann,  of  New  Haven,  jiastor  of  this  church  forty  years  ago  ; 
Rev.  Dr.  S.  D.  Phelps,  of  New  Haven;  Rev.  Walter  Barton,  pastor  of  tlie 
church ;  Judge  S.  A.  Lane,  of  Akron,  O.  ;  Rev.  Dr.  Collins  Stone,  of 
Hartford;  Rev.  J.  L.  Hodge,  D.  D.,  of  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.  ;  Hon.  John  Cot- 
ton Smith,  of  Sharon;  Samuel  C.  Huntington,  Esq.,  of  Hartford  ;  Mayor 
W.  L.  Smith,  of  Springfield.  There  were  also  representatives  of  the  Hart- 
ford Tiin.cs  and  Gourant,  Springlield  Iiep>//il/cai),  and  Providence  Jovrnal. 

THE    EXERCISES    IN    THE    CHUIUII. 

At  10  o'clock,  D.  AV".  Norton,  Esq.,  ])resident  of  the  day,  announced 
the  commencement  of  tlie  exercises,  which  were  conducleil  according  to 
the  following- 


C  C(u/     ':fA^^^^:/^^-^^ 


71 

PKOGJIAMME. 

N'oluiitary  on  llie  ()i\u'aii. 

Singing-  by  the  Choir. 

StatL'iuent  l)y  the  President,  I).  AY.  Norton,  Es(]. 

Invocation,  by  Rev.  Joel  Mann. 

Ktatling  tlie  Holy  Scriptures  and  Prayer,  by  lU'V.  I).  Ives,  I).  D. 

Original  llynui,  l)y  tlie  Choir. 

Address  of  Welcome,  by  Kev.  Walter  T.arlon. 

Response,  by  S.  A.  Lane,  Esc].,  of  Akron,  O. 

Ode,  by  the  Choir. 

Address,  by  Rev.  J.  L.  Ilodge,  D.  T). 

Singing,  by  the  Choir. 

Historical  Address,  by  John  Lewis,  Emj. 

]\Iusic,  by  the  Band. 

Poem,  l)y  Rev.  S.  D.  Phelps,  D.  D. 

Anthem,  by  the  Choir. 

llenedietion,  by  Rev.   Stephen  Harris. 

Mv.  NoiiTON  said  :  We  meet  to  celebrate  the  bi-centenniul  anniversary 

of  the  establishment  of  this  town.     He  referred  to  the  departure  from 

England  of  our  forefathers;  their  stormy  passage  across  the  ocean  ;  tlicir 

arrival  and  landing ;  this  was  two  hundred  and  fifty  years  ago;  fifty'  years 

later  some  of  the  settlers  traveled  across  the  country  and  settled  in  the 

Valley  of  the  Connecticut;  the  location   of  Suffield  was  purchased  by 

3Iajor  John  Pynchon,  for  thirty  pounds  ;  in  April,   1670,  Springfield  j^c- 

titioned  for  a  grant  for  a  township  of  Stony  Brook,  as  SufReld  used  to  be 

called,  and  on  the  12th  of  October  in  that  year  this  grant  was  passed,  and 

the  settlement  begun,  Joseph  Harmon  aud  brother  being  the  first  settlers  ; 

C4od  was  with  the  earlier  settlers ;  He  has  been  with  us  since,  and  we  trust 

His  blessing  will  rest  on  the  exercises  of  the  day. 

Tlie  address  of  welcome  l)y  the  Rev.  AValter  Barton  was  exceedingly 
well  adapted  to  the  occasion.  After  referring  to  the  appropriateness  (jf 
commemorating  the  day,  in  touching  language  and  cloipient  terms  he  re- 
(piested  all  residents  of  Sulfield  to  rise  and  extend  their  hands  in  welcome 
of  their  guests;  then  as  he  said  he  gathered  them  all  into  one  great  hand 
which  he  extended  to  Judge  Lane  of  Ohio,  on  the  part  of  the  guests 
present,  saying,  "  Welcome  each,  welcome  all." 

Judge  Lane  made  a  short  but  happy  reply.  It  Avas  i'oily  years  ago 
when,  he  said,  if  tradition  was  true,  he  left  the  i)lace,  a  rosy-cheeked, 
1  (lack-haired  boy  of  l.j ;  he  now  returned  a  sallow,  gaunt  man,  gray- 
haired  and  dim-sighted,  55  years  of  age;  he.  then  referred  to  the  wonder- 
ful changes  that  had  taken  place  during  that  time,  and  of  the  march  of 
improvement,  and  concluded  Ijy  returning  thanks  on  behalf  of  the  guests 
for  the  cordial  greeting  that  was  being  extended  to  them. 

The  Rev.  Dr.  Ilodge  spoke  at  length  upon  the  religious  sentiment  of 
Suilield.     His  address  was  in   plain  words,  eloipienlly  and  forcibly  deliv- 


72 

ered,  and  created  a  marked  impression ;  he  thought  that  God  had  emi- 
nently ijrivileged  Sulheld  ;  the  community  has  come  gradually  to  the  aid 
of  the  churches,  and  the  town  had  been  always  on  the  side  of  God,  of 
Christ,  and  of  salvation. 

THE    ORATION. 

The  oration  of  John  Lewis,  Esq.,  was  a  very  comprehensive  and  ex- 
haustive one.  Its  delivery  was  necessarily  curtailed  on  account  of  its 
length,  but  it  will  be  published  in  full  in  a  pamphlet  which  is  to  be  issued 
in  commemoration  of  the  occasion.  We  give  the  following  brief  abstract : 

Samuel  and  Joseph  Harmon  were  the  first  settlers  of  Suffield,  or  Stony 
Brook,  as  it  was  tlien  called,  and  built  their  ca1;)in  in  the  summer  of  1670. 
Their  descendants  are  there  to  this  day.  Major  General  Phineas  Lyman, 
of  Suffield,  distinguished  himself  in  the  old  French  war.  Singularly 
enough,  it  was  on  the  Fourth  of  July^  1774,  that  the  jjeople  of  SutReld 
denounced  the  policy  of  England,  expressed  sympathy  with  Boston,  and 
started  a  subscription  for  the  suffering  poor.  The  old  pay-roll  in  the 
State  House  shows  that  there  "  marched  from  Suffield  for  the  relief  of 
Boston,  in  the  Lexington  Alarm,  April,  1775,  Captain  Elihu  Kent  and  one 
hundred  and  fourteen  men."  More  than  one  hundred  and  fifty  men  en- 
tered the  service  within  a  month  from  the  alarm.  In  September,  1775, 
Captain  Ilanchett's  company  formed  part  of  the  expedition  against  Que- 
bec. He  and  most  of  the  company  were  captured,  he  was  put  in  irons, 
and  they  were  kept  prisoners  till  October,  1776.  The  captain  advanced 
a  thousand  dollars  to  his  men,  which  the  General  Assembly  repaid.  The 
whole  revolutionary  record  is  exceedingly  honorable.  Thirty-two  Suffield 
men  certainly,  and  probably  many  more,  lost  their  lives  in  the  service. 
Jlr.  Lewis  eloquently  advocated  the  erection  of  a  monument,  on  which 
should  be  inscribed  the  names  of  these  thirty-two,  and  also  of  those  Avho 
were  sacrificed  in  the  war  of  the  reljellion.  The  changes  in  industrial 
pursuits  from  generation  to  generation  are  curious.  Sliip-l)uilding  was 
once  carried  on  there.  Many  vessels  are  known  to  have  been  launched, 
but  there  is  no  record  of  them.  Turpentine  was  for  a  time  gathered  as 
an  article  of  commerce.  When  Suffield  was  a  place  of  much  trade,  there 
were  at  one  time  twelve  taverns  in  the  town.     Now  there  is  not  one. 

The  educational  and  ecclesiastical  history  of  the  town  is  interesting, 
but  we  are  compelled  to  omit  the  extracts  we  had  intended  to  make.  The 
pamphlet  record  of  the  day's  addresses  will  make  a  valuable  addition  to 
our  libraries  of  local  history. 

THE   POICM. 

Dr.  Phelps  was  extremely  happy  in  his  i)oem.  It  abounded  in  telling 
hits,  witticisms,  and  bits  of  choice  sarcasm.  The  topics  Avere  those  nat- 
urally suggested  by  the  day  and  the  writer's  reminiscences  of  his  l)oyhood 
in  the  town.  There  were  many  neat  and  ])'.easant  couplets  Avhich  pro- 
voked laughter  and  applause. 


h 


^"^'-"1^' 


--^^.     V^^s^^^^^^^z^cJ^^^^^ 


X 


'^C^/U^^^^ 


73 

Tlic  cx'-Tciscs  were  concluded  hy  an  autlieni  : 

"  Glorious  tliin_i;s  of  tliec  arc  sjiokcn, 
Ziou  city  of  our  God," 

and  llic  hcncdictioo. 

IN    THE   TENT. 

The  procession  was  formed  at  the  end  of  the  exercises  in  the  same  order 
as  in  the  morning,  and  marched  to  a  tent  erected  on  the  green.  Here 
were  spread  innumerable  tables,  loaded  to  bending  with  the  j^i'ofusion  of 
edibles  furnished  by  the  liberality  of  the  ladies  of  Suffield.  After  all  the 
large  crowd  had  partaken,  there  were  more  than  twelve  baskets  full,  aye, 
wagons  full,  left.  We  have  never  seen  a  more  liberal  collation  or  one  bet- 
ter served  than  this.  The  ladies  themselves  honored  their  guests  by  wait- 
ing on  them,  and  lent  on  additional  charm  to  the  occasion.  Colt's  Band 
performed  a  number  of  choice  selections  during  the  repast. 

THE   TOASTS. 

Then  came  the  after  dinner  speeches  in  response  to  sentiments  read  by 
the  marshal,  in  the  following  order  : 

I.  The  President  of  the  United  States.     By  Gen.  .T.  11.  Ilawley. 
3.  The  State  of  Connecticut.     By  ex-Governor  Jewell. 

It  had  been  expected  that  Governor  English  would  resjiond  to  this. 
lie  arrived  at  about  11  o'clock,  accompanied  by  Adjutant  General  Inger- 
soll,  and  heard  a  portion  of  the  exercises  in  the  church  and  dined  hastily 
in  the  tent,  but  he  was  compelled  to  leave  early  in  order  to  take  the  after- 
noon accommodation  train  and  keep  an  ajipointment  in  New  Haven. 

3.  The  first  settlers,  Samuel  and  Joseph  Harmon.  One  of  their  de- 
scendants was  called,  but  he  was  not  present  to  respond. 

4.  The  descendants  of  the  settlers.  John  Cotton  Smith,  of  Sharon, 
spoke  in  response.  He  is  a  great  grandson  of  the  Ilev.  Cotton  JMather 
Smith,  who  went  from  Suffield  to  Sharon  in  1755,  and  there  preached 
over  fifty  years,  and  whose  son  was  Gov.  John  C\)tton  Smith. 

5.  The  citizens  of  Suffield  to-day.  By  the  Rev.  Dr.  Phelps,  some  well- 
improvised  verses. 

6.  The  sons  and  daughters  of  Sullield.  By  Francis  Rising,  Esq.,  of 
Troy,  N.  Y. 

7.  The  church  and  the  school.     By  the  Rev.  Dr.  Ives. 

8.  The  absent  sons  and  daughters.     By  the  Rev.  Dr.  Hodge. 

9.  Springfield,  ]\Iass.,  the  mother  town.  By  IMayor  Smith,  of  Spring- 
field. 

10.  The  oldest  man  in  Suflield.  By  Mr.  Ajjollos  Phelps,  cigiity-tive 
years  old,  a  native  and  life-long  resident  of  tlie  town,  in  vigorous  health, 
who  related  some  interesting  traditions,  though  the  noise  i)revcnted  him 
being  generally  heard. 

II.  The  old  "porch  house"  and  the  "sentinel  elms."  By  the  Hon. 
Samuel  II.  Huntington,  of  Hartford,  who  was  born  in  that  once  well- 

10 


74  y 

known  residence.  It  was  tjccupied  by  Gen.  Washington,  on  liis  visit  to 
Suffiekl,  but  it  has  disappeared,  and  with  it  one  of  the  noble  pair  of  elms 
that  stood  before  it. 

12.  Suffield  men  in  business  in  other  States.  By  Mv.  Willis  King,  a 
prominent  and  successful  merchant  of  St.  Louis. 

At  5  1-2  o'clock  the  special  train  brought  the  Hartford  and  New  Haven 
guests  home,  but  a  number  remained  to  jiarticipate  in  the  reunion  which 
was  held  in  the  Second  Baptist  Church.  At  this  a  number  of  letters  from 
old  residents  unable  to  be  present  Avas  read,  and  there  was  a  general  min- 
gling of  congratulations  by  all  present.  There  was  also  some  fine  music, 
vocal  and  instrumental. 

The  young  folks  enjoyed  the  late  hours  of  the  evening  and  night,  and 
further  celebrated  the  day  by  dancing  at  the  Town  Ilall,  but  at  this  our 
reporter  was  unable  to  be  present. 

THE    OFFICERS    OF    TUB.  DAY. 

The  following  were  the  ofiicers  of  the  day  : 

President — D.  W.  Norton. 

Vice-Presidents — George  Fuller,  Gad  Sheldon,  Warren  Lewis,  Milton 
Hathaway,  L.  U.  S.  Taylor,  Albert  Austin. 

Chief  Marshal — Col.  S.  B.  Kendall.  Alds—¥.  P.  Looiuis,  II.  A.  Loomis, 
John  Nooney,  B.  F.  Territt. 

They  performed  their  arduous  duties  in  a  very  praiseworthy  manner. 

TIIK    MUSIC. 

The  music  in  the  church  was  under  the  direction  of  Mr.  Henry  Foster, 
of  New  Britain,  a  former  resident  of  Suliield,  who  presided  at  the  fine 
organ.  The  Voluntary  was  well  performed,  closing  with  "Home,  Sweet 
Home."  The  opening  anthem  was  sung  by  a  choir  of  fifteen  young 
ladies,  in  a  very  pleasing  manner.  The  original  hymn  we  puljlish  entire. 
It  w^as  sung  to  the  tune  of  "  Auld  Lang  Syne."  At  the  close  of  Dr. 
Hodge's  address  an  operatic  selection,  "  Night  shades  no  longer,"  was 
sung  by  the  full  choir,  in  a  taidtless  style.  The  closing  anthem,  "  Glorious 
things  of  Thee,"  etc.,  was  also  sung  with  good  eflect. 

We  should  not  forget  to  say  a  word  of  praise  for  Colt's  Band,  whose 
playing  was  much  admired  and  heartily  ajiplauded. 

To  conclude,  the  entire  celebration  was  an  exceedingly  pleasant  one, 
notwithstanding  the  unpleasant  weather,  and  all  who  took  part  in  the  ex- 
ercises will  long  renu'ml)er  the  200t]i  anniversary  of  Suliield. 


^^^^W^  ey^-^ 


Cl^^/>^'^ 


aS 


V' 


v/rt 


[From  tlic  Hartford  Evcninj,-  Post,  Oct.  13,  ISTO.] 

SUFFIELD  BT-CENTENNIAL. 

SuFFiELD,  Wediifsaay,  October  12,  1870. 

For  two  luiiulred  years,  as  the  saying  goes,  SufReld  has  waited  for  this 
day,  and  now  it  eonies  with  rain  and  storm,  tlie  iirst  of  any  account  in 
many  weeks,  and  seemingly,  at  least  to  Suffield  folks,  it  conies  to  spoil  the 
enjoyment  of  this  anniversary.  The  early  train  from  Hartford,  a  special 
to  SutReld,  aud  the  first  whose  whistle  ever  sounded  over  her  broad  fields 
and  through  her  pleasant  homes,  arrived  with  (^uite  a  delegation  about  8 
a.  m.,  finding  accommodations  in  numerous  carriages  and  stages  from  the 
stopping  place  to  the  centre. 

The  order  of  the  day  was  to  form  a  procession  at  9  o'clock,  witli  Coifs 
Band,  the  Governor  and  staff,  aud  ex-CTOvernors,  together  with  citizens 
and  strangers,  from  abroad,  and  so  proceed  to  the  church,  where  the  exer- 
cises of  the  day  were  to  be  held  ;  but  the  rain  hindered,  although  it  did 
not  entirely  prevent  the  procession,  which  w-as  formed  al)out  half  past 
nine,  and  with  music  marched  to  and  entered  the  cliurch — and  a  beautiful 
church  it  is,  of  which  few  have  a  correct  knowledge,  for  there  is  a  preva- 
lent idea  that  being  a  country  place  Suflield  has  no  fine  churches,  but  a 
siglit  of  this  will  disprove  all  such  fancies.  Over  the  altar  w^as  this  l)eau- 
tiful  motto  of  cheer  to  those  who  luid  come  from  afar  to  this  bi-centen- 
nial  : 

Welcome. 

1G70. 

Sons  and  Daughters  of  Suflield. 

1870. 

In  front  of  and  beside  the  altar  flowers  of  every  hue  and  shape,  together 
with  immense  baskets  of  autumn  flowers,  l)right  and  Ijeautiful,  gave  to- 
ken of  tlic  ladies'  ever  present  liand. 

After  the  immense  congregation  liad  ceased  to  Inizz,  Mv.  II.  A.  Foster, 
of  New  Britain,  formerly  of  the  Connecticut  Literary  Institute,  opened 
the  day  by  a  voluntary  of  the  OfFertoire  in  F  by  Wely,  beautiful  always, 
but  never  more  so  than  under  tlie  touch  of  a  master.  Then  followed 
a  song,  "  We  Hail  Thee,"  I)y  a  chorus  composed  of  thirty  voices.  After- 
ward Daniel  W.  Norton,  Esr^.,  president  of  the  day,  made  a  short  address, 
prmcipally  historical,  telling  of  the  trials  our  fathers  cndiu'cd,  of  their 
settlement  in  Suflield  under  the  name  of  Stony  Brook  plantation,  pur- 
chased by  Major  .Tohn  Pyuchon,  of  Springfield,  for  £;^0,  of  the  grant  of 
Joseph  Harmon,  Octolicr  r2,  I(i70,  and  the  continued  growth    and  pros- 


76 

perity  of  the  town.  Following  this,  an  invocation  by  the  Rev.  Joel 
Mann,  and  reading  of  the  Scriptures  l)y  the  Rev.  Dr.  Ives,  selections  from 
the  first  chapter  of  John  and  the  eleventh  of  Hebrews,  followed  by  prayer 
by  the  same  gentleman. 

Then  an  original  hymn  was  sung  by  the  choir,  entitled  "  Two  Hundred 
Years  Ago."  Tliis  song  was  composed  by  the  poet  of  the  occasion,  the 
Rev.  S.  D.  Phelps,  D.  D.,  of  which  we  give  a  verse : 

"  Where  now  a  joyous  throng-  wc  stiincl, 

And  beauties  round  us  glow, 
Stood  a  dense  forest,  wild  and  grand, 

Two  hundred  years  ago. 
How  vast  the  cliangc  from  old  to  new, 

'Tvvould  strike  the  fathers  dumb. 
But  what  shall  fill  the  children's  view 

Two  hundred  years  to  come." 

The  Rev.  Walter  Barton,  in  behalf  of  the  town,  now  welcomed  the 
visitors  to  Suftield,  saying  that  although  he  was  not  a  native  of  the  town, 
yet  he  claimed  relationship  by  land,  as  Suffield  was  formerly  a  part  of 
Hampden  county,  in  which  he  was  born,  and  he  requested  all  the  resi- 
dents of  the  town  to  rise,  and  by  their  rising  he  claimed  the  right  and  re- 
joiced in  the  opportunity  of  clasping  hands  for  them  with  Mr.  S.  A.  Lane, 
of  Akron,  Oiiio,  editor  of  the  Akron  Beacon.,  formerly  an  old  resident, 
bidding  him  welcome,  and  through  him  all  the  old  time  citizens  who  had 
come  back  to  celebrate  their  birthday  as  a  town. 

Mr.  Lane  rejilied  very  happily,  dwelling  ujjon  his  having  left  the  vil- 
lage forty  years  ago,  a  bright-faced,  ruddy,  clear-eyed  lad,  and  if  report 
were  true,  rather  good  looking  withal,  [laughter]  going  forth  to  seek  his 
fortune  in  the  far  west  in  those  forenoon  years  of  the  century. 

Now  he  came  back,  lean  and  lank,  gray,  and,  as  they  well  could  see, 
not  remarkably  handsome,  having  learned  that  the  old  town  was  truly 
pleasant  and  dear  to  him,  spite  of  his  long  wanderings  and  heart  exile. 

More  singing,  and  then  Rev.  J.  L.  Hodge,  D.  D.,  of  Brooklyn,  spoke, 
telling  of  the  loving  kindness  of  God  in  permitting  him  to  come  back 
to  his  old  home  once  again.  "I  came  to  town  forty  years  ago,  lank  and 
lean  as  you  please,  and  as  lank  in  pocket  as  in  body,  seeking  an  education 
for  the  Christian  ministry,  and  entered  a  class  of  which  the  president  of 
tlie  day  was  an  honorable  meml)er,  subsequently  was  pastor  in  the  village, 
and  now,  he  said,  I  am  put  here  to  relate  interesting  matters  concerning 
the  religious  history  of  the  town  ;  was  well  acquainted  with  Parson  Gay 
the  younger,  and  knew  him  always  as  a  devout  and  Christianlike  man. 
I  have  also  known  neai'ly  every  pastor  since  my  first  advent  here  ; "  and 
then  the  Rev.  gentleman  told  the  audience  that  though  not  born  here,  he 
would  have  been  had  they  consulted  him — he  claimed  relationship  by 
water  and  spirit,  as  he  was  a  Baptist,  [Laughter.]  He  was  born  in 
Al)erdeen,  Scotland,  a  land  full  of  grand  revivals  and  true  gospel  in- 
tiuence. 


/^^^_  ^^u^ 


77 

Wlien  he  died  he  had  ordered  the  next  l)est  thing  to  being  born  here  to 
be  done,  and  that  was  that  he  shouUl  l)e  buried  here,  and  have  a  tomb- 
stone of  Aberdeen  granite  to  mark  his  resting  phxce.  After  a  further  dis- 
cussion of  other  topics  connected  witli  his  su))ject,  the  Rev.  Dr.  sat  down 
amid  mucli  applause.  Tlien  the  chorus  rendered  in  splendid  style, 
"  Night  Shades  no  Longer,"  from  the  oratorio  of  "  Moses  in  Egypt." 

The  orator  of  the  day,  Mr.  John  Lewis,  a  graduate  of  the  Connecticut 
Literary  Listitute  in  18G4,  of  Yale  in  18G8,  and  now  a  practising  member 
of  tlic  Hartford  bar,  was  introduced,  and  for  more  than  an  hour  held  the 
vast  audience  by  thoughts  of  his  finely  wrought  and  higlily  polished  dis- 
course. Relating  various  historical  facts  al)out  the  town — many  new  and 
jjleasing  ones,  too — he  said:  "The  history  of  our  town  is  not  without  its 
practical  bearing — we  have  met  to  study  the  lives  and  characters  of  those 
who  Jiave  lived  here  the  past  two  hundred  years  ;  and  surely  tliere  must 
be  a  practical  benefit  to  each  one  of  us  arising  from  such  an  insight ;  and 
yet,"  he  said,  "  it  is  necessary  to  realize  that  Suflield  is  only  a  town  and 
not  a  great  nation,  while  we  pursue  the  search  into  her  past  life,"  a  fact 
which  some  of  the  speakers  seemed  to  lose  sight  of.  The  history  of  the 
town  from  its  first  cliarter  in  1670  to  the  present  day  was  given  even  in 
the  most  minute  particular.  lie  related  the  indignities  and  wrongs  wliich 
slie  suftered  in  being  annexed  at  one  time  to  IMassachusetts,  and  also  told 
of  her  valiant  part  in  the  great  wars  of  the  Revolution,  when  she  fur- 
nished four  hundred  men,  of  whom  thirty-two  were  killed,  and  how  the 
first  school  house  was  built  in  1703,  and  of  the  first  master  thereof,  Ped- 
agogue Austin.  It  is  also  wonderful  to  remark  the  changes  in  the  bus- 
iness hal.)its  of  the  town,  as  portrayed  by  the  orator  from  a  thriving  man- 
ufacturing town  in  1770,  to  a  (piiet  fiirming  village  in  1870.  Then  she 
had  lawyers,  a  newspaper,  two  law  schools,  a  dozen  hotels,  and  everything 
was  full  of  life  ;  to-day  how  dead  !  The  first  town  meeting  was  held  in 
1683,  at  which  selectmen  were  elected.  Suflield  has  given  birth  to  two 
Postmaster  Generals,  four  members  of  Congress,  one  Major  General,  one 
Governor  of  Connecticut,  one  of  Vermont,  two  of  Pennsylvania,  one  of 
Ohio,  and  various  men  who  fill  our  judges'  benches  well  and  acceptably. 
The  speaker  was  frequently  applauded,  especially  when  advocating  the 
erection  of  a  soldiers'  monument. 

At  the  conclusion  of  the  address  the  band  played  the  piece  called  tiie 
"  Hermit's  Bell,"  in  which  a  cornet  solo  was  finely  given. 

Dr.  S.  D.  Phelps,  of  New  Haven,  the  poet,  for  a  brief  space  gave  the 
audience  the  outfiow  of  his  ever  ready  poetic  talent.  Touching  with 
loving  hand  the  days  dead  and  past,  calling  up  by  his  word  painting 
sweet  memories  of  scenes  and  seasons  in  our  youth. 

His  idea  of  what  a  news])apcr  might  be,  or  should  be,   if  you  please, 
was  given  in  the  following  lines,  describing  Suftield's  weekly  paper: 
"  Go  back  to  the  last  century's  closing  years, 
Suflield  anioui;-  the  rising  towns  appears, 
A  central  place  of  wide,  extensive  trade, 


Whose  enterprise  its  repiitatioii  made  ; 

Of  Hartford,  SpringBekl,  'twas  a  rival  tlicn, 

And  equaled  them  iu  iulluential  men. 

It  had  a  weekly  press  of  ample  size 

And  editorial  talent ;  'twould  surprise 

You  now  to  scan  its  files  and  columns  o'er ; 

The  names,  the  firms,  the  advertisements  of  j'ore, 

O'er  the  wide  land,  for  high  and  healthful  tone, 

The  '  Impartial  Herald'  was  a  paper  known." 

Then  there  was  a  scene  in  the  old  church — one  of  Suffiekl  a  hundred 
years  ago,  and  of  their  prevailing  vice  as  a  }3eople — too  much  tobacco 
raising,  lie  gently  warned  them.  Their  long  delay  in  building  a  railroad 
he  joked  them  about  in  this  wise  : 

"  The  long-  repentance  of  these  tliirty  years, 
In  the  wee  branch  you've  waited  for  appears." 

After  the  Gloria  from  Mozart's  12th  Mass,  by  the  chorus,  the  exercises 
in  the  church  ended  with  the  benediction  by  the  Rev.  S.  Harris. 

"  FALL   IN   FOR   RATIONS." 

From  the  churcli  to  the  great  tent  on  the  Park  was  an  easy  cliange,  and 
very  agreeable  to  many  of  the  visitors,  especially  your  correspondent,  who 
from  personal  experience  can  testify  to  the  abundance  of  everything  in  the 
line  of  eatables,  furnished  by  the  ladies  of  this  grand  old  town.  "Suf- 
field  ladies  never  do  things  by  halves." 

After  dinner  the  vast  audience  of  2,500  having  Ijcen  somewhat  (piieted. 
Col.  S.  B.  Kendall,  marshal  of  the  day,  proposed  the  following  toasts  and 
called  the  respondents. 

1.  The  President. 

Responded  to  hy  Gen.  J.  R.  Hawley. 

2.  The  State  of  Connecticut. 

By  Ex-Gov.  Jewell,  as  Gov.  English  had  left  town  for  the  purpose  of 
keeping  an  engagement  in  New  Haven.  Gov.  Jewell  in  his  remarks  said, 
"  that  as 'twas  the  fiishion  to  claim  relationship  to  Suffield,  one  having 
done  so  by  land  and  another  by  water,  he  could  claim  it  by  Jire — as  he 
had  suffered  all  the  tortures  of  the  lost,  trying  to  smoke  their  "  partic- 
ular" seed-leaf  (laughter)  and  he  thought  himself  entitled  to  his  claim." 

8.  The  First  Settlers,  Samuel  and  Joseph  Harmon. 

4.  The  Descendants  of  the  Settlers. 

By  John  Cotton  Smith,  of  Sharon,  a  great  grandson  of  Cotton  Mather 
Smith. 

5.  The  Citizens  of  Suffield  to-day. 

By  Dr.  Phelps,  in  some  very  appropriate  and  well  timed  verses. 

6.  The  Sons  and  Daughters  of  Sutiield. 
By  Francis  Rising,  of  Troy,  N.  Y. 

7.  The  Churcli  and  the  School. 
By  the  Rey.  Dr.  Ives. 


■^^T^i^t^ 


79 

8.  The  absent  Sous  and  Daughters. 

By  the  Rev.  Dr.  Ilodge,  who,  as  usual,  brouglit  the  audicn'-c  into  the 
best  of  humor  l)efore  lie  had  spoken  a  dozen  words. 

9.  Springiield,  the  ]\Iothcr  Town. 

By  Mayor  Smith,  'vvlio  claimed  to  l)e  the  grandfather  of  their  town,  be- 
cause he  was  the  father  of  Springfield,  and  she  was  the  mother  of  Suffield. 
(Cheers  and  laughter.) 

10.  The  Oldest  IMan  in  Suffield. 

By  ApoUos  Phelps,  a  native  of  the  place,  now  eiglity  five  years  old. 
Too  indistinct  to  l)e  heard. 

11.  The  old  "Porch  House  "  and  the  "  Sentinel  Elms.'' 
By  the  Hon.  Samuel  Huntington,  of  Hartford. 

12.  Suffield  Men  in  business  in  otlier  States. 

By  the  Hon.  "Willis  King,  who  left  town  for  Missouri  forty  years  ago. 
The  Star  Spangled  Banner  was  played  by  the  band,  and  then  the  mul- 
titude disi)ersed  to  their  homes. 

REUNION    IN    THE    EVENING. 

In  the  evening  the  same  large  and  enthusiastic  audience  convened  in 
the  2d  Baptist  Church,  and  for  two  hours  listened  to  toasts  and  speeches 
— all  ajjpropriate,  and  some  wittj\  The  toafet  to  the  Connecticut  Lit- 
erary Institute  was  responded  to  Jjy  Rev.  Mr.  Andrews,  principal  of  the 
school.  A  very  clear,  forcible  speaker,  but  space  and  time  forbid  our 
making  any  detailed  report.  There  was  a  sentiment  which  included  the 
"  Lawton  "  blackl^erry,  but  your  correspondent  was  unable  to  hear  it  all. 
Mr.  Barton  proposed  an  impromptu  toast  as  follows :  '"  Our  Suffield  rail- 
road and  the  arrival  of  the  first  train — two  hundred  years  in  coming,  but 
better  late  than  never.'' 

A  verse  of  "Home,  Sweet  Home"'  was  sung  by  the  chorus,  and  with  a 
few  more  remarks  from  strangers,  and  any  one  who  wished  to  speak,  the 
meeting  adjourned  after  singing  the  Doxology,  "Praise  God  from  Whom 
all  Blessings  Flow." 

Thus  ended  the  great  anniversary  of  SuffiehVs  l)irth.  With  her  new 
highway  to  the  outer  world  opened  she  has  a  grand  future  before  her,  and 
if  the  spirit  which  turned  the  railroad  from  her  and  prevented  the  arsenal 
from  being  located  within  her  borders  thirty  years  ago  be  dead,  there  is 
no  hindrance  to  her  advancement. 

The  cost  of  the  bi-centennial  was  $3,000.  Through  the  eflbrts  of 
Simon  B,  Kendall,  who  was  a  member  of  the  last  legislature,  an  enabling 
act  was  passed,  allowing  the  town  to  lay  a  tax  sufficient  to  raise  $1,500 
for  this  celebration,  and  the  balance  necessary  was  collected  by  subscrip- 
tion. To  Colonel  Kendall  too  much  praise  cannot  be  given  for  his  val- 
uable and  untiring  laI)ors  before  and  throughout  all  the  exercises.  Honor 
to  whom  honor  is  due. 


[From  the  Summit  County  (Ohio)  Beacon,  Oct.  26,  1870.] 

A  VISIT  TO  THE  OLD  NATIVE   TOWN   BI-CEN- 
TENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

INTERESTING  EXERCISES. 

Dear  Old  Sanctum:  A  visit  to  one's  native  town,  after  long  years  of 
absence,  is  always  interesting,  and  doubly  so  on  a  special  invitation  to 
participate  in  the  celebration  of  an  important  anniversary  connected  witli 
its  origin  and  early  history. 

The  occasion  of  my  present  visit  to  New  England  was  the  celebration 
of  the  two  hundredth  anniversary  of  the  settlement  of  the  township  of 
Suffield,  in  the  county  of  Hartford  and  State  of  Comiecticut,  which  oc- 
curred on  Wednesday,  October  12th. 

The  town  is  situated  upon  the  west  bank  of  the  Connecticut  river, 
eighteen  miles  north  of  the  city  of  Hartford,  and  adjoining  the  Massa- 
chusetts line.  It  is  one  of  the  very  loveliest  of  the  many  beautiful  towns 
in  the  splendid  valley  in  whi('h  it  is  situated.  Its  fertile  and  carefully 
cultivated  farms,  its  broad  and  neatly  kept  streets,  its  fine  roads,  its  mag- 
nificent residences,  its  superb  churches,  its  commodious  educational  struc- 
tures, all  evince  a  high  degree  of  culture  and  prosperity. 

On  the  twelfth  day  of  October,  1G70,  the  General  Court  of  Massachu- 
setts, at  Boston,  authorized  the  settlement  of  the  "  jjlantation  " — a  tract 
of  land  six  miles  square — which  was  afterwards  organized  as  the  town- 
ship of  "  South  Fields,"  and  subsequently  changed  to  the  more  compact 
and  euphoneous  name  of  Suffield.  And  it  was  to  aid  in  properly  observ- 
ing its  hi-centennial  that  the  absent  sons  and  daughters  of  the  old  town 
Avere  invited  to  revisit  their  ancient  home.  By  a  vote  of  the  town  the 
sum  of  $1,500  was  appropriated  to  defray  the  expenses  of  the  celebration. 
In  addition  to  this  the  good  ladies  of  the  entire  town  vied  with  each  other 
in  providing  edibles  for  the  public  feast  that  was  to  be  given  to  the  re- 
turning wanderers,  and  in  extending  their  hosiiitality  to  all  visitors, 
whether  native  born  or  not. 

Besides  two  large  church  edifices — Congregational  and  Baptist— in 
which  to  conduct  the  exercises,  a  large  tent  capable  of  covering  four  or 
five  thousand  persons  had  been  procured  from  Boston  and  erected  upon 
the  beautiful  Central  Park  of  the  village.  Unfortunately  for  the  com- 
plete success  and  joyousness  of  the  occasion,  a  drenching  rain  set  in  on 
the  evening  of  the  11th  and  continued  until  afternoon  on  the  day  of 
the  celebration.  This  undoul)tedly  kept  many  hundreds  of  people  from 
neighboriug  towns  from  attending.     But  yet,  as  stormy  as  it  was,  there 


<r^/. 


C^^i    C^f.<^ 


J^ 


I 


n 


(AaJx, 


1 


81 

were  ]M*()liaI)ly  4,000  j)('()plei)resent,  aintJUi^  whom  were  many  distiiiguislied 
men,  natives  or  descendants  of  former  residents  of  Suffield  from  distant 
States,  as  well  as  a  hiri^e  numl)er  of  the  dignitaries  of  Connecticut  and 
Massachusetts.  Amoni;;  tlie  latter  were  Gov.  English  and  memljcrs  of  his 
staff,  and  ex-Governors  llawh'y  and  Jewell,  of  Hartford,  and  Mayor 
Smith,  of  Springfield. 

The  day  was  ushered  in  l>y  a  salute;  of  forty  guns  and  the  ringing  of  the 
church  l)clls  of  the  town.  For  the  first  time,  to  bring  in  its  illustrious 
guests,  the  cars  ran  into  the  township  over  its  new  railroad,  a  branch  of 
the  Hartford,  New  Haven  and  Springfield  railway,  on  the  ausi^icious,  or 
rather  inauspicious  morning.  The  intended  grand  cavalcade,  procession, 
and  march,  owing  to  the  rain,  was  but  a  partial  success,  though  the  in- 
vited guests,  officers  of  the  day,  speakers,  &c.,  were  escorted  l)y  Colt's 
Armory  Band,  of  Hartford,  from  the  rendezvous  oiiposite  to  the  Congre- 
gational church  upon  the  west  side  of  the  Park.  Every  portion  of  the 
large  house,  including  the  capacious  gallery,  was  densely  i^acked  with  an 
intensely  interesting  and  ex])cctant  audience.  The  church  was  finely  deco- 
rated witii  flowers  and  evergreens  and  appropriate  mottoes. 

The  exercises  consisted  of,  first,  a  voluntary  upon  the  magnificent  organ 
of  the  church  ;  second,  singing  by  the  choir;  third,  a  statement  in  regard 
to  settlement  of  the  town  and  the  object  of  the  celeljration,  by  Hon.  Daniel 
W.  Norton,  of  Sutlield,  president  of  the  day;  fourth.  Invocation  by  IJev. 
Joel  Mann,  of  New  Haven,  pastor  of  the  Congregational  church  of  Suf- 
field nearly  fifty  years  ago  ;  fifth,  reading  of  the  Scriptures  and  prayer,  by 
Rev.  Dr.  D.Ives,  pastor  of  the  Baptist  church  of  Suffield  ;  sixth,  original 
hymn  by  the  choir;  seventh.  Address  of  Welcome  by  Rev.  AValter  Bar- 
ton, pastor  of  the  Congregational  church  of  Suffield ;  eiglith,  response  to 
address  of  -welcome,  l)y  S.  A.  Lane,  editor  of  the  Akron  Daily  Beacon, 
Akron,  Ohio;  ninth,  ode  by  choir;  tenth,  address— church  history  of  the 
town  of  Suffield— by  Rev.  J.  S.  Hodge,  D.  D.,  of  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.  ;  eleventh, 
singing  by  the  choir  ;  twelfth,  historical  address  of  the  town  of  Suffield, 
by  John  Lewis,  Esq.,  of  Hartford;  thirteenth,  music  by  Colt's  Armory 
Band ;  fourteenth,  original  poem,  by  Rev.  S.  D.  Phelps,  D.  D.,  of  New 
Haven;  fifteenth,  anthem  by  the  choir;  sixteenth,  benediction,  I)y  Rev. 
Stephen  Harris,  of  West  Suffield. 

These  exercises  occujjied  nearly  four  hours,  eliciting  the  undivided  at- 
tention of  the  large  audience,  and  very  frequent  and  very  enthusiastic  ap- 
plause. At  their  close,  at  3  o'clock  p.  m,,  the  audience  repaired  to  the  big 
tent,  under  which  was  served  one  of  the  finest  collations  that  I  have  ever 
seen.  At  the  close  of  the  gustatory  exercises,  in  response  to  appropriate 
sentiments,  speeches  were  made  by  cx-Gov.  Ilawley  and  ex-Go  v.  Jewell, 
of  Hartford;  Hon.  John  Cotton  Smith,  of  Sharon,  Conn.,. a  great-grand- 
son of  Rev.  Cotton  JMathcr  Smith,  a  resident  of  Suffield  up  to  1755^';  Rev. 
Dr.  S.  D.  Phelps,  of  New  Haven  ;  Francis  Rising,  Esq.,  of  Troy,  N.  Y.  ; 
Rev.  Dr.  Ives,  of  Suffield ;  Rev.  Dr.  Hodge,  of  New  Haven  ;  Mayor  Smith,  of 


82 

Springdeld;  Mr.  Apollos  Phelps,  85  years  of  age,  tlie  oldest  native  born, 
life-long  resident  in  Suffield;  Hon.  Samuel  Huntington,  of  Hartford, 
and  Hon.  Willis  King,  a  prominent  merchant  of  St.  Louis. 

During  the  after-dinner  exercises,  the  weather  came  oft' bright  and  beau- 
tiful, and  the  large  throng  separated  in  the  best  of  S2)irits,  each  and  all 
feeling  that  notwithstanding  the  storm  the  Suffield  bi-centennial  had  been 
a  magnificent  success. 

In  the  evening  a  large  audience  assembled  at  the  Baptist  church,  where 
the  remaintler  of  the  sentiments  which  had  been  prepared  were  read  and 
ajipro2)riately  responded  to,  and  many  intei-esting  reminiscences  related 
by  visitors,  l)otli  native  and  otherwise,  the  writer  of  this  getting  in  a  few 
words  upon  the  railroad  question,  exhorting  the  people  of  old  Suffield  to 
extend  their  new  branch  road  througli  the  town,  so  that  visitors  can  get 
out  of  tlie  town  upon  the  north  as  avcU  as  the  south. 

In  the  evening,  also,  the  young  people  of  the  town  had  a  social  dance 
at  the  town  hall,  which  is  represented  as  being  altogether  a  lively  and 
pleasant  affair,  and  thus  ended  one  of  the  most  important  celebrations 
and  reunions  that  it  has  ever  been  my  good  fortune  to  attend. 

S.  A.  L. 

Suffield,  Conn.,  Oct.  14,  1870. 


/ 


V5%-- 


^^?X^-^^^^-^r;^. 


SENTIMENTS  AND  RESPONSES. 

Tlie  rrcs'uk'iit  of  the  United  iStutes. 

By  J.  R.  Hawiey. 

The  Governor  of  the  State  of  Conncclicut. 

By  ex-6ov.  Jewell, 

The  State  of  Connecticut — tlic  "nutmeg"  State— the  spice  of  New  Eu!;inn(l— 
noted  for  her  industrial,  agricultural,  and  nianufacturing  interests,  its  prosperity 
in  banks  and  insurance  companies. 

By  cx-Gov.  Jewell. 

The  ex  Governors  of  tlie  State  of  Connecticut.  No  State  can  sliow  brighter 
Jewels  than  ours. 

By  cx-Gov.  Jewell. 

The  first  Settlers  of  Suffield,  Samuel  and  Joseph  Harmon,  and  their  Associates. 
They  came  here  through  the  wilderness  in  faitli,  they  labored  here  with  jtaticnce, 
they  rested  in  hope.     Wliat  we  are  to  day  is  tlie  result  of  their  labors. 

By  Israel  Harmon,  Esq.,  a  descendant. 

Mr.  President:  Americans  arc  a  proud  people,  and  justly  so.  To  be 
able  to  say  our  in  connection  with  the  world's  only  repiil)lic  that  has  real- 
ized the  hopes  of  the  oppressed  and  the  theories  of  philanthropists,  is  a 
source  of  pride  higher  than  Roman  orator  or  Atlicnian  philosopher  could 
ever  glory  in. 

Natives  of  SufReld  are  a  proud  people,  and  to-day  as  they  view  its  re- 
ligious and  educational  institutions,  its  thrift  and  prosperity,  its  ])alriotic 
record,  who  shall  say  their  i)ride  is  not  justifiable  ? 

The  Harmons  are  this  day  proud — jiroud  of  this  town,  planted  by  (heir 
ancestors  through  toil,  suffering,  and  peril,  and  which  to-day  is  without  a 
superior  in  this  our  favored  land.  They  are  proud  of  their  descendants, 
who  have  never  furnished  law-breakers  for  jails  or  ])risons,  l)ut  have  well 
filled  all  positions  in  the  gift  of  their  townsmen,  in  religious,  educational, 
masonic,  and  political  organizations,  and  furnished  judges  and  other 
officers  for  Ohio  and  other  States. 

I,  one  of  the  youngest  of  the  Harmons,  in  the  light  of  legend,  tradi- 
tion, history,  look  back  through  centuries  to  the  time  when  S.\mukl  and 
JosEi'ii  H.\KMON,  about  one  mile  west  from  where  we  now  stand,  first 
formed  their  rude  liabitations,  laid  tribute  on  the  virgin  soil,  and  made  a 
nucleus  around  which,  and  from  which,  originated  Suffield,  Connecti- 
cut's  brightest  jewel.     Fellow-citizens,  look   at  your  fertile  fields,  your 


84 

)>eneficent  institutions  ixnd  happy  homes,  and  l)e  convinced  thattliosc  first 
settlers  did  more  for  the  good  of  tlie  liuman  race  than  did  the  first  great 
Napoleon. 

Have  Ave  of  to-day  no  duties  to  perform  ?  Do  not  tlic  prayers,  toils, 
perils  of  our  forefathers,  the  prosperity  of  the  past,  the  result  of 
their  labors,  call  upon  us,  with  earnest  voice,  never  to  prove  recre- 
ant to  our  great  privileges  and  rcsponsil)ilities  ?  Do  they  not  more 
thrillingly  than  bugle  notes  urge  us  to  high  resolve  and  endeavor  that 
Suflield's  future  history  may  never  put  to  shame  its  past,  but  grow 
brighter  as  centuries  roll  ?  May  pure  religion  be  the  sure  foundation  of 
our  future  greatness  ;  may  our  fiiir  women  be  educated,  industrious,  pure 
mothers  of  noble  patriots ;  may  our  brave  men  be  refined,  enterprising, 
guided,  and  guided  only,  by  the  great  principles  of  eternal  trutli,  and 
may  the  Harmons,  wherever  on  earth's  broad  surface  they  inay  be,  do 
credit  to  their  brave  foreftithers,  and  ever  turn  with  fond  recollections  to 
the  glorious  old  town  of  Sufiield  which  their  ancestors  planted. 

The  sacred  and  blessed  memory  of  the  first  settlers  of  Suflield. 

(This  to  be  received  standing,  with  a  dirge  from  the  band.) 

The  former  ministers  of  Suflield.  They  were  men  who  gave  tliemselves  wholly 
to  their  worli.  Though  many  of  tliem  rest  from  their  labors,  tlieir  worlcs  do  fol- 
low them. 

By  Rev.  Joel  Mann — by  letter. 

New  Haven,  Oct.  17, 1870. 

Rev.  and  Deati  Sir  :  I  am  unwilling  to. have  the  toast  respecting  the 
ministers  of  Suflield  to  be  a  blank  or  remain  entirely  unnoticed.  I  send, 
therefore,  what  follows  as  my  response,  which  you  may  give  to  the  com- 
mittee, if  you  think  best,  that  it  may  go  into  the  record  that  may  be  made 
of  the  proceedings  of  your  interesting  celel»ration. 

The  toast  is  in  these  words  :  "The  former  ministers  of  SutHeld.  They 
were  men  who  gave  themselves  wholly  to  their  work.  Though  many  of 
them  rest  from  their  labors,  their  works  do  follow  them." 

The  sentiment  to  which  I  am  requested  to  resjiond  is  somewhat  delicate 
and  embarrassing,  as  I  have  the  honor  of  being  one  of  those  who  are  em- 
l)raced  in  it.  Leaving  out  myself,  therefore,  I  would  say  a  few  words  re- 
specting those  Avhom  I  have  known.  It  was  my  privilege  to  be  associated 
in  the  pastorate  with  the  second  Mr.  Gay.  Though  he  did  not  then  preach, 
he  prayed  ;  audit  is  an  important  matter  to  have  the  prayers  of  a  man  of 
God,  and  to  have  the  counsels  of  one  who  has  had  a  long  exi)erience  of 
the  duties,  labors,  and  difficulties  of  a  pastor.  He  had  a  kind  heart,  and 
with  his  family  practiced  true  Christian  hospitality.  Faithful  in  tlie  ser- 
vice of  the  master,  he  sustained  a  long  ministry,  and  has  gone  to  partici- 
2)ate  in  the  blesscMlness  of  the  just  made  perfect. 

Rev.  Mr.  Philleo  was  the  pastor  of  the  Baptist  chunih  while  I  was 
here.  He  was  an  earnest,  working  man,  somewhat  eccentric  and  out- 
spoken.    Once  he  met  me   in  the  street,  and   speaking   of  the  religious 


85 

state  of  the  people,  he  said :  "  I  wisli  tliat  we  niiglit  preaeh  and  labor  in 
such  a  manner  as  would  make  them  think  we  were  lialf  crazy."  His  la- 
bors were  abundant  and  not  without  success. 

Rev.  Daniel  Waldo  was  another  of  the  pastors  in  this  town — a  man  of 
genial  spirit,  a  cheerful  worker  in  the  Lord's  vineyard,  a  sound  theologian, 
and  a  faithful  preacher.  lie  had  a  soul  for  music,  an  acute  and  discrim- 
inating ear,  and  sensitive  nerves.  Once  at  my  house  he  told  me  how  his 
usual  equanimity  was  disturl)ed  by  unharmonious  singing  in  a  church. 
The  tune  was  one  he  greatly  disliked,  and  the  performers  of  the  three 
parts,  treble,  tenor,  and  bass,  he  said,  "  took  the  pitch  at  right  angles,  and 
on  they  went  in  that  stjde  through  the  hymn.''  He  added  that  the  effect 
on  his  nerves  was  such  that  he  did  not  feel  that  he  could  preach  after  such 
torturing  sounds  in  the  name  of  sacred  music.  He  lias  passed  to  the 
bright  world  where  the  redeemed  unite  in  harmonious  strains  of  praise, 
in  the  102d  year  of  his  age. 

We  would  gratefully  record  their  virtues,  and  be  thankful  for  the 
grace  that  made  them  devoted  and  faithful  in  the  ministry  of  the  Gospel. 

May  these  churches  ever  be  favored  with  pastors  strong  in  faith,  sound 
in  doctrine,  earnest  and  successful  in  their  holy  calling. 

With  truly  fraternal  regard,  I  am  yours,  J.  Mann. 

The  citizens  of  Sufflekl  to-day.  God  grant  that  the  virtues  and  deeds  of  our 
ancestry  may  forever  hallow  our  abudes — that  every  earthly  lilessiug-  may  distill 
like  the  dews  of  heaven  upon  them,  till  Time's  last  eclio  shall  have  ceased  to 
sound,  and  the  governnictits  of  the  world  shall  have  given  plate  to  that  of  the 
King  Eternal. 

By  Rev.  S.  D.  Phelps,  D.  D. 

From  the  Past,  with  its  treasures  of  h.jnorand  stor^-, 

Wrought  out  by  an  ancestry  noble  and  true, 
O  children  of  Sutlicld,  the  Future's  bright  glory, 

In  promise  and  h(([)e,  is  entrusted  to  you. 

May  virtue  and  happiness,  sisters  of  licauty. 
E'er  dwell  in  your  homes  as  their  gladness  and  ])eaee, 

And  the  sons  of  the  fathers,  unshrinking  in  duty, 
Make  the  fame  of  their  heritage  ever  increase. 

May  the  lilessings  of  earth  in  the  sunshine  of  Heaven, 

For  every  one  here  in  their  plentitude  rest ; 
And  the  far  richer  grace  of  the  (iospcl  be  given, 

As  the  guide  of  tiic  soul  to  the  home  of  the  blest. 

In  the  long  Vww.  of  centuries  down  to  their  ending, 
May  tiie  earliest  memoi-ies  l)lentl  with  the  last ; 

Through  successions  of  years,  benedictions  descending. 
Till  millennial  splendors  1)C  over  them  cast. 


86 

The  Pioneers  of  Suflielcl,  Conn. 

By  Rev.  Amos  B.  Cobb,  of  Cliicayo,  111. 

Mr.  President  :  I  feel  myself  liouored  to  be  recognized  as  one  of 
the  guests  at  tlic  second  centennial  celebration  of  the  settlement  of  this 
town,  my  once  happy  home.  Suffield  is  endeared  to  me  l)y  interests  most 
sacred. 

And  now  to  respond  to  a  sentiment  fraught  with  so  mncli  interest,  com- 
mencing with  the  jiioneers'  great  hearts  of  thought  and  action,  which  the 
word  signifies.  The  two  Harmons,  tired  with  the  idea  of  jjrogress,  re- 
solved to  brave  all  danger  and  hardship  for  interests  in  the  prospective. 
From  this  noble  standpoint  assumed  by  those  worthy  men  of  large  hearts 
and  great  thoughts,  like  the  rays  of  the  solar  orb,  have  radiated  all  the 
interests  and  honors  of  tliis  now  pleasant  and  wealthy  town.  The  men 
of  SufReld  have  been  in  many  points  the  first  to  think  and  then  to  act, 
which  has  won  much  renown. 

Samuel  and  Joseph  Harmon  were  the  men  to  fell  those  lofty  trees,  and 
began  to  transform  the  wilderness  into  a  fruitful  field,  albeit  it  was  "  a 
very  woody  place  and  ditficult  to  winne.'" 

In  contemplating  those  brave  men,  I  imagine  I  see  them  as  they  think, 
resolve,  and  act  in  their  daring  project.  I  fancy  I  hear  them  say  'tis 
liere  we  will  set  up  our  Ebenczer ;  then  with  tinder-box,  flint,  and  steel 
they  kindle  a  fire  Ijy  the  side  of  a  fallen  tree,  then  sit  upon  the  old  oak 
and  regale  themselves  with  the  beauty  of  the  surrounding  scenery,  while 
eating  the  first  meal  in  the  new  town,  and  then  lie  down  beside  the  log  to 
sleep  and  dream  of  days  to  conu;. 

This  is  a  synopsis  of  pioneering  ;  this  presents  the  toil,  and  suffering, 
and  danger  incident  to  life  in  a  howling  wilderness;  this  the  germ  of 
what  we  now  witness  iu  this  flourishing,  wealthy,  and  beautiful  town. 
From  these  noble  pioneers  has  the  pioneer  spirit  emanated  and  radiated, 
as  from  one  common  centre.  I,  too,  have  known  something  of  ])ioneer 
life,  being  born  April  22d,  1789,  only  eight  days  )>efore  the  inauguration 
of  Gen.  Geo.  Washington,  as  the  pioneer  President  of  the  United  States. 
I  cannot  claim  this  as  my  ])irthplace,  but  the  place  of  my  adoption  at  the 
ao-e  of  tliirteen.  Here  I  was  educated  and  i-aised  to  maidiood,  a  cotem- 
porary  of  the  lamented  Ilev.  Aretas  Kent,  who  subsequently  entered  the 
ministry  and  became  a  pioneer  missionary  in  the  far  West,  and  won  many 
souls  for  his  Master  as  an  amltassador  of  Jesus,  now  gone  to  report  him- 
self and  receive  his  reward.     Peace  to  his  ashes,  and  glory  to  his  soul. 

I  entered  the  ministry  and  was  licensed  in  March,  1819,  and  that  year 
labored  in  Winsted  and  its  vicinity.  I  afterwards  labored  in  Simsbury, 
Gra.n1)y,  and  Canton,  and  suf;ceeded  the  Rev.  J.  N.  Maflit  in  the  city  of 
Hartford. 

In  1825  I  removed  to  Cayuga  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  commenced  my  labors  as 
a  pif)ncer  in  the  great  vineyard  of  the  West.  The  next  year  I  preached 
alternately  in  Homer,  Cortland  Co.,  and  T-oeke,  Cnyuga  Co. 


87 

From  aliout  the  middle  of  June  to  the  middle  of  November  I  preached 
in  the  woods  in  open  air,  as  the  school  houses  and  barns  were  too  small 
to  contain  the  congregations  ;  and  what  is  remarkable,  there  were  Ijut  two 
rainj'  Sundays  in  the  time,  an'd  that  was  the  first  Sunday,  when  we  were 
driven  into  the  school  house,  and  the  last  day  Ave  W'cre  driven  into  a  barn. 
Many  sought  the  Lord  and  professed  their  failli  in  (lod  as  the  result  of 
ni}'  pioneer  labor  there. 

In  the  spring  of  1831,  being  more  fully  indmeil  with  the  spirit  of  the 
pioneer  minister,  I  resolved  to  obey  the  command  given  to  the  first  ])io- 
ncers  of  the  cross,  and  as  the  Held  was  large,  to  say  as  did  the  prophets, 
here  am  I,  send  me.  In  August  I  emigrated  with  my  family  to  the  terri- 
tory of  Michigan,  and  landed  at  the  mouth  of  Swan  ("reek,  where  the  city 
of  Toledo  now  stands.  No  white  settlement  of  any  great  amount,  but 
the  ground  dotted  with  teuts  of  Indians,  collected  there  to  receive  pay 
from  government.  I  journeyed  from  there  to  Monroe  City,  thence  up  the 
river  Raisin,  about  fifty  miles,  to  Tecumseh,  where  I  located  and  preached 
for  one  year  in  the  sparse  settlement  of  that  region.  I  will  not  detain 
you  to  speak  of  all  the  interesting  incidents  of  that  toilsome  journey, 
part  of  the  way  being  only  the  Indian  ti-ail. 

Soon  after  my  arrival  at  Tecumseli,  I  went  in  search  of  provision  for  mv 
family,  and  all  I  could  get  for  love  or  money  in  three  days'  time  was  a 
borrowed  loaf  of  bread,  and  six  green  cucumbers  given  me. 

The  next  spring  the  Black  Hawk  war  broke  out  in  the  Avilds  of  Wis- 
consin, and  threatened  to  spread  desolation  and  death  through  all  the 
pioneer  settlements  between  there  and  Canada.  We  were  in  jeopaidy  for 
some  months,  and  once  Avere  informed  tluit  1,500  Indians  Avere  close  upon 
■us,  and  avc  felt  all  the  terror  and  anxiety  incident  to  the  anticipated  at- 
tack. But  it  was  a  false  alarm  :  God  ordered  it  otherAvise,  and  we  were 
preserved.  God  proved  himself  a  God  at  hand,  and  restrained  the  Avrath 
of  man,  and  Ave  receiA^ed  no  harm.     To  God  be  all  thejiraise. 

In  August,  18o3, 1  sold  my  home  in  the  Avoods  of  Tecumseh  and  started 
for  Prairie  Ronde,  Kalamazoo  Co.,  Avhere  I  unfurled  the  1  tanner  of  the 
cross,  and  the  Avinter  folloAving  the  Lord  recognized  the  labor  and  sanc- 
tioned it  by  calling  into  His  kingdom  many  precious  souls.  There  Ave 
liad  seasons  of  privation  and  want ;  but  God  Avas  Avith  us  and  sustained 
us  through  all,  and  I  labored  on  in  connection  Avith  others  in  the  pioneer 
field  as  end)assadors  of  Jesus,  Avith  more  or  less  success,  until  the  begin- 
ning of  the  winter  '35-G.  I  was  then  called  to  a  nujre  extensive  field  of 
labor  in  a  circuit  of  about  400  miles.  I  traveled  on  horseback,  Avhich  Avas 
in  fact  my  study,  as  there  I  arranged  my  sermons,  and  preached  from  21  to 
38  times  every  four  AA'ceks.  I  Avas  Avith  my  family  l)ut  four  days  out  of 
28,  and  for  all  my  toil,  labor,  and  privation,  received  about  $100  a  year. 
I\Iy  parishioners  Avere  all  pioneer  settlers,  and  most  of  them  did  Avhat  they 
could  to  support  th(!  Gospel,  and  aa'c  lived  togetlier  and  God  prospered  us 
in  spiritual  and  temporal  tilings. 


88 

Mr.  PresiLleut,  your  Immblc  speaker  and  Ibniier  townsman  has  known 
much  of  the  life  of  the  pioneer,  both  as  a  man  and  a  minister,  and  being 
Iionored  by  the  appointment  of  embassador  of  Jesus  Christ  to  the  revolted 
world  of  mankind,  I  have  endeavored  not  only  to  teach  and  wai'n,  but 
also  to  "  pray  them  in  Christ's  stead  be  ye  reconciled  to  God." 

Having  been  raised  to  manhood  from  thirteen  years  of  age,  and  enter- 
ing upon  the  aftaii's  of  civil  life  as  a  freeman,  commencing  I  say  here  in 
this  town,  I  claim  to  be  a  pioneer  of  Sullield.  Yes,  sir,  1  have  been  some- 
what a  pioneer  Mcithodist  minister  in  this  town  ;  for  some  time  I  preached 
alternately  in  South  street  and  Feather  street,  every  two  weeks,  and  occa- 
sionally in  other  parts  of  the  town. 

My  ministry  in  this  town  was  about  the  last  of  my  lalior  in  New  Eng- 
land, excepting  a  part  of  the  time  I  preached  in  South  wick,  Mass.,  which 
adds  anotlier  link  of  evidence  to  my  claim  of  being  a  pioneer  of  Suffield. 
Of  this  I  Ijoast.  I  love  to  advert  to  Connecticut— yes,  to  Suffield— as  my 
native  home.     Enough  of  self. 

Pardon  me,  Mr.  President;  I  have  unintentionally  passed  over  tlie  first 
ministers,  the  pioneers  of  the  Gospel  of  the  Son  of  God  in  this  town.  I 
shoul'd  have  named  the  Rev.  John  Younglove  as  the  first  to  think  and  act — 
verily  a  pioneer.  Mr.  Geo.  Philips  and  ]\Ir.  Nathaniel  Clapp  were  also  pio- 
neers, and  prepared  the  way  for  Mr.  Benjamin  Kuggles  to  Ije  ordained  the 
first  pastor,  making  him  and  the  church  the  pioneer  pastor  and  church  of 
Suffield.  But  Aretas  Kent,  myself,  and  perhaps  many  others,  I  know  not 
Avho  have  been  pioneers  from  Suffield.  Thanks  to  God  for  conferring  on 
us  so  great  an  honor. 

Mr.  President,  having  first  alluded  to  those  great  hearts  and  strong 
arms,  the  Harmons,  as  the  first  pioneers  in  Suffield,  I  have  recognized  the" 
pioneer  spirit  that  followed,  especially  in  the  ministei's  of  Suffield,  who 
have  shed  a  hallowed  influence  on  their  successors,  of  which  I  think  I 
have  had  a  small  share. 

But,  sir,  as  I  have  defined  the  word  ])ioneer,  first  to  think  and  then  to 
act  it  has  been  radiating  in  all  its  ramifications  of  business  life,  so  that  it 
has  become  jjroverbial  that  the  Yankee  enterprise  going  out  from  Suffield 
is  found  everywhere. 

At  the  present  time  we  have  heard  boast  of  the  great  men  who  have 
been  raised  and  gone  out  from  Sutfield  as  men  of  thought  and  action, 
2)ioneers  in  literature,  in  arts,  and  the  sciences.  You  see,  sir,  that  Suffield 
is  renowned  for  the  good  and 'the  great.  Thanks  for  your  patience  and 
forbearance. 

The  South  Fields— their  sturdy  oakti  :uul  luird  soil.  "  DillicuH  to  w  imie,"  they 
were  fit  coiiipaiiions  and  emblems  of  the  iiiilieinlini;'  and  unyiuhliiii;-  iiitri^rity  of 
our  Ibrcfathers. 


89 

Till!  vij,'on)iis  Truiiibull  fiunily.  Having  first  plaiitoil  llie  iioblc!  elm  in  .Siilliclil, 
now  extend  the  branelios  of  their  lineal  tree  o'er  many  a  State,  and  may  their 
leaves  be  for  the  healing  of  nations. 

Letter  from  J.  Ilammoud  Trniiibiill. 


IlAiiTFOiiD,  Oct.  loth,  1870. 

Daniel  W.  NoKTOx,  Esq.:  My  Deau  Sir:  Till  this  evening  I  have 
been  hoping  that  I  miglit  be  able  to  accept  your  obliging  invitation  to  ])e 
present  at  tiie  celebration  on  Wednesday  of  the  two  hundredth  anniver- 
sary of  the  settlement  of  Sullleld — the  earliest  home  in  Connecticut  of  the 
Trumbulls.  But  at  this  late  hour  I  lind  myself  under  the  necessity  of 
sending  my  regrets. 

Even  if  I  could  be  Avitli  you,  I  am  not  sure  that  it  would  be  proper  for 
me  to  speak,  on  such  an  occasion,  as  a  representative  of  the  surname. 
Though  I  belong  to  the  dan,  I  am  not  of  (the)  Sufheld  (aept.)  My  ances- 
tors remained  in  ^Massacliusetts  more  than  a  hundred  years  after  their 
kinsmen,  the  Tnonhles  of  Sutlield,   came  to  Stony  Brook. 

Yet,  although  I  have  no  SulReld  blood  in  my  veins,  I  should  not  the 
less  enjoy  meeting  with  you,  to  recall  memories  of  the  old  time,  and  to 
look  at  some  of  the  ancient  landmarks  that  I  know  only  by  the  mention 
of  them  in  your  early  records.  I  would  like  to  trace  the  boundaries  of 
the  hrst  Trumble  honielots,  on  Feather  street,  and  to  see  the  old  elm 
that  the  two  brothers  planted  near  the  first  Trund>le  homestead.  It 
"  lives  yet,"  I  am  told,  and  is  now  al>out  twenty-live  feet  in  circumference 
near  the  ground,  surviving  the  hxst  representative  of  the  Trumble  name 
in  Sutlield.  The  best  part  of  it,  perhaps,  is  underground,  as  is  often  true 
of  ancient  families  and  ancient  trees;  but  the  life  has  not  all  gone  from 
the  old  stock,  and  if  it  no  longer  throws  out  new  branches  as  vigorously  as 
in  former  years,  scions  from  it,  transplanted  to  other  States,  are  growing 
into  goodly  trees. 

I  have  mentioned  the  dan  of  the  Trumbulls,  and  that  word  suggests 
the  Scottish  origin  of  the  surname  and  birthiilace  of  the  family. 

In  the  course  of  two  or  three  generations,  the  (h'seenih'iiif  s  of  the  "  raid- 
ing and  rieving"  borderers  were  trained  to  good  citizenship,  and  Ity  the 
time  Connecticut  began  to  be  settled,  the  Trumbles — some  of  them,  at 
least — were  qualitieil  to  become  planters  in  a  "  land  of  steady  iiabits,'' 
and  deacons  in  puritan  churches. 

Several  families  of  tlie  name  were  living  in  JS'cirrasflc-on-  7'//ne,  in  tlie 
early  i)art  of  tlu;  17th  century.  Wlien  I  was  searching  the  register  of 
All  Saints  Parish,  in  that  city,  several  years  ago,  I  found  the  marriage  of 
John  TrmnUe  and  Elinor  Chandler,  July  7th,  1G35.  These  it  is  nearly 
certain,  were  the  parents  of  Jndah  and  Joseph,  of  Sullield. 

When  John  and  Elinor  Trumble  came  to  New  England  is  not  precisely 
ascertained.  Tliey  were  living  in  Kowley,  Mass.,  in  1(341.  He  had  lieen 
12 


90 

admitlcd  a  rtt'ciiuin  of  Massucliusclts  tlie  year  before.  His  kinsman,  Jolm 
Truinble,  of  Cambridge  and  Charlestown,  came  over  as  early,  at  least,  as 
lOoO.  Sirs.  Elinor,  or,  as  she  is  called  in  the  Rowley  records,  Ellen  Trum- 
blc,  died  in  lOl!).  Her  husl^and  married  a  second  wife,  who  survived 
him.  At  his  decease,  in  1G57,  he  left  three  sons,  John^  Juclah,  and  Josqih, 
all  by  his  first  wife.  John,  the  eldest,  lived  and  died  in  Itowley.  About 
1690  he  was  on  the  point  of  removal  to  Suflield,  but  he  had  not  yet  estab- 
lished himself  there  at  the  time  of  his  decease,  in  the  winter  of  1690-91. 

Juclah,  second  son  of  the  first  John  of  Rowley,  appears  on  the  Connec- 
ticut records  in  1G68,  when  I  find  his  name  as  plaintiff  in  an  action  for 
debt,  before  the  town  court  in  Windsor.  He  may  have  been  living,  at 
this  time,  in  Springfield. 
•  June  24th,  1674,  "  the  committee  for  ordering  the  affairs  of  the  new 
plantation  now  called  Suffield,"  granted  .Judah  Truml)le  and  his  younger 
brother  Joseph  each  a  lot  of  50  acres  on  Featlier  street.  From  this  time 
the  two  brothers  were  counted  as  of  Suffield. 

The  first  recorded  birth  in  the  town  is  (as  I  learn  from  INIr.  Sykes's  His- 
torical Address  in  1858),  that  of  Jolni^  son  of  Judah  and  IMary  Trumble, 
March  5th,  1674.  The  first  recorded  death  is  that  of  Ebenezer,  son  of 
Judah  and  Mary,  Sept.  23d,  1675. 

But  John,  the  son  of  Jndali^  if  the  first  born  of  Suilield,  was  not  the 
first  born  of  Suffield  Johns.  Joseph,  the  younger  ])rother  of  Judah,  mar- 
ried ))efore  him,  and  had  a  son  John,  born  in  Rowley,  Nov.  27th,  1670 — 
afterwards  known  on  Suffield's  records  as  "  John  Trumble  the  First."  His 
father  did  not  bring  his  family  to  Suffield  till  the  summer  of  1675.  In 
June  of  that  year  he  sold  liis  house  in  Rowley,  and  removed  as  soon  as 
his  youngest  child,  Ijorn  in  the  previous  IMarch,  was  old  enough  to  travel 
with. 

These  two  young  Johns — "  John  the  First,"  son  of  Josej/h,  and  "  John 
the  Second,"  son  of  Judah — have  given  genealogists  a  great  deal  of 
trouljle.  I  never  looked  into  the  Suffield  records  without  being  thankful 
that  their  uncle  John  of  Rowley  died  before  he  brought  his  family  to  tlie 
new  plantation.  If  he  had  come,  and  Ijrought  another  little  John  Avith 
him,  to  be  mixed  up  with  his  cousins  on  the  town  records,  the  genealog- 
ical puzzle  would  have  become  ho2ielessly  comjjlicatcd. 

I  am  making  too  long  a  story  of  the  jolanting  of  the  Tram  bull  elm, 
and  must  beware  of  "  endless  genealogies."  I  will  dispose  of  the  next 
half  dozen  generations  in  as  few  words  as  possible,  and  restrict  myself  to 
lines  of  descent  from  Joseph,  the  younger  brother.  He  had  four  sons — 
John,  Joseph,  Ammi,  and  Benoid — who  l>ecame  the  founders  of  four  dis- 
tinct families. 

John  was  the  grandfather  of  the  Rev.  John  Trumbull,  of  Westbury, 
(now  Watertown),  ordained  in  1740,  whose  sou,  John  Trumbull,  LL.  D., 
of  Hartford,  was  a  Judge  of  the  Sujierior  Court  from  1801  to  1819,  but  is 
far  better  known  as  the  author  of  "McFingal,  the  ISIodern  Epic,"  that  be- 


91 

came  the  most  popular  of  Amcriciin  poems,  and  went  througli  more  tli.au 
thirty  editions  before  1830.  The  late  George  A.  Trumbull,  of  the  Cit- 
izens Bank  in  Worcester,  was  a  descendant  from  John  the  First. 

Joseph,  the  second  son  of  .Tosej)!!,  l)ecame  one  of  the  early  planters  of 
Lebanon,  where  he  liveil  till  his  decease  in  17.")5.  His  son  Ju)iatlum,  was 
tiie  Revolutionary  Governor.  Of  him  I  need  only  repeat  the  words  of 
Washington:  "  A  long  and  well-spent  life  in  the  service  of  his  country, 
places  Governor  Trumbull  among  the  first  of  patriots."  Ilis  eldest  son. 
Col.  .Joseph,  was  the  first  Commissary  General  of  tin;  army  of  the  United 
States,  anil  a  Commissioner  of  tlic  War  Oillce.  Another  son,  Jondtlian, 
was  secretary  and  aid  to  Washington,  speaker  of  Congress,  171)1-1700,  and 
Governor  of  Connecticut  from  1798  till  his  death  in  1809..  A  third  son. 
Col,  John  Trumhicll,  was,  in  the  words  of  his  epitaph,  "  Patriot  and  artist, 
friend  and  aid  of  Washington."  The  remaining  son,  David,  of  Lehanon, 
was  fath(;r  of  the  third  Governor,  Joseplt  Truml)ull,  of  Hartford,  who  died 
in  1801.  The  two  daughters  of  the  old  Governor,  Ftdth  and  Mary^  were 
married,  one  to  Gen.  Jedediah  Huntington,  of  the  army  of  the  devolution, 
the  other  to  William  Williams,  a  signer  of  the  Declaration  of  Independ- 
ence. The  Rev.  Ddcld  Tnnnlndl,  D.  D.,  now  of  Valjjaraiso,  is  a  grandson 
of  Jonathan,  the  second  Governor. 

Ammi,  third  son  of  the  first  Joseph  of  Suflield,  settled  in  End  Wlmlsor, 
and  left  descendants  there  by  his  son,  Capt.  Ammi,  and  two  daughters 
married,  one  to  Eljenezer  Watson,  the  other  to  Ebenezer  Ilayden.  Among 
his  descendants  I  may  name  the  late  Dr.  Horace  Wells,  of  Hartford,  to 
whose  memory,  as  the  discoverer  of  Anathesia,  his  state  and  country  are 
beginning  to  award  honors  that  have  been  too  long  deferred. 

BENOxr,  fourth  son  of  Joseph,  born  five  days  after  his  father's  dealli, 
and  hence,  I  suppose,  named  "  a  son  of  grief,"  founded  the  //"A/w/ fam- 
ily, from  which  came,  in  the  third  generation,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Benjamin 
Trumbull,  minister  of  North  Haven,  and  author  of  the  History  of  Con- 
necticut. The  Hon.  Lyman  Trumljull,  the  distinguished  Senator  from 
Illinois,  is  a  grandson  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Truml)ul!,  and  a  native  of  Col- 
chester. 

My  letter  has  grown  to  an  iiiircasouable  length,  and  "imperfect  as  is  the 
outline  sketch  I  have  attemptcil  to  give  of  one  of  the  principal  branches- 
of  the  Sufiield  stock,  I  must  not  now  add  to  or  complete  it.  Twenty 
names  occur  to  me  among  descendants,  in  the  male  lines,  from  Judah  and 
Joseph  Trund)idl,  as  well  deserving  honbral)Ie  mention  as  some  of  whom 
I  have  taken  note.  And  a  much  longer  roll  of  men  of  mark  might  be 
made  up  from  tliosc  who  trace  descent  through  iiadcnial  ancestors  from 
the  two  brothers  of  Sufiield.  But  I  did  not  purpose  to  do  the  work  of 
the  genealogist,  only  to  cull  here  and  there  a  few  twigs  from  an  old  tree. 

Witli  sincere  regret  that  I  cannot  be  ])resent   at  the  commemoration  on 
Wednesday — a  regret  in  which  you  can  hardly  fail   to  join,  when  you  see 
how  long  a  letter  my  presence  would  have  spared  you,  I  am,  my  dear,  sir, 
Very  truly  yours,  J.  Hammoni>  Tkimuill. 


92 

The  old  Poreli  House,  lliu  lirot  parsoiia;j,-e,  and  the  Sentinel  Elms. 

Ilesi)ou(led  to  by  the  Hon.  Samuel  II.  Iluutiiigtoii,  of  Ilarti'ord — in 
wliich  Judge  Huntington  very  happily  and  pleasantly  stated  that  Suffield 
was  the  place  of  his  nativity  ;  that  he  was  cradled  in  the  old  "  Porch 
House,"  where,  and  at  the  village  school,  his  early  boyhood  was  spent. 
The  two  majestic  elm  trees  standing  in  front  were  planted  l)y  the  Rev. 
Benjamin  Iluggles  and  his  people,  about  175  years  ago.  We  fancy  we 
see  them,  emerging  from  the  forest,  with  tlie  young  elms  on  their  shoul- 
ders, spades  in  hand,  and  see  them  jjlanting  them  on  the  highway  or 
common.  In  the  rear  of  the  old  "Porch  House"  was  the  well,  with  its 
crotch  and  sweep,  and  "  old  oaken  Ijucket."  The  old  Bell  ])car-tree  on 
the  northwest, -into  which  many  a  vicious  boy  climbed  in  the  darkness  of 
the  night,  thus  proving  the  old  maxim,  "  stolen  fruit  was  sweet."  During 
the  Revolutionary  war  a  company  of  militia  were  paraded  under  the 
shade  of  these  elms  one  summer's  day,  during  the  month  of  August,  pre- 
paratory to  gf)  to  the  front  in  the  service  of  their  country.  Gen.  Wash- 
ington, the  "Father  of  the  Country,"  was  passing  through  Suffield  on 
that  day,  and  stopped  at  the  Austin  tavern  (directly  ojiposite)  to  dine. 
Some  of  the  jn-incipal  men  of  the  town  invited  him  to  go  over  and  make 
a  speech,  to  cheer  and  encourage  the  men  in  this  company  to  go  forward 
and  do  their  duty  to  their  country.  He  did  so,  and  his  speech  had  the 
desired  efl'ect.  On  another  occasion,  when  General  Washington  was 
passing  through  this  town,  he  stopped,  and  with  others  wont  up  into 
tlie  belfry  in  the  steeple  of  the  Congregational  churcli  on  the  hill,  just 
))uilt,  with  its  l)eautiful  spire,  by  Master  Howard,  of  Suffield.  Gen.  Wash- 
ington greatly  admired  the  beauty  of  the  surrounding  country,  the  dwell- 
ings of  its  patriotic  citizens,  and  the  fertility  of  its  cultivated  field?. 

A  few  years  ago  one  of  these  majestic  elm  trees  (the  north  one)  fell  dur- 
ing a  wintry  storm  of  wind,  rain,  and  ice,  whose  spacious  roots  had  been 
mutilated  by  a  ruthless  teamster's  axe,  in  which  he  made  a  trough  which 
he  filled  witli  grain,  for  the  2:)urpose  of  feeding  his  team,  ruining  this  no- 
ble tree,  and  causing  its  death  in  half  a  century,  while  the  other  sentinel 
is  left  in  health  and  strength,  solitary  and  alone,  a  silent  mourner  of  the 
past,  listening  to  the  shrill  whistle  of  ihcjii'st  locomotive  with  its  sj^ecial 
train  from  Hartford,  over  the  branch  railroad  to  Suffield,  on  this  occasion. 
Long  may  ?7a.s'  sentinel  elm  stand  in  all  its  glory,  free  from  harm  and  the 
winter's  blast,  a  memento  of  the  past,  and  mark  the  site  of  the  holy  men 
of  old.  And  long  may  the  Avorthy  and  honorable  respondent  to  this  sen- 
timent live  to  visit  the  place  of  his  nativity. 

The  Suilield  men  who  ai'C  honored  Imsiness  men  of  other  i]laeei?. 

Responded  to  by  Wyllys  King,  Esq.,  of  St.  Louis,  Missouri. 

Mil.  Presidiont  :  It  is  not  in  my  power  to  make  a  speech,  even  if  I  de- 
sired to  do  so,  or  if  proper  to  take  up  the  time,  whicli  can  be  much  better 
used.     I  only  beg  the  privilege  of  expressing  my  sincere  thanks  to  you  as 


93 

the  honored  president  of  the  day,  and  through  j'ou  to  the  committee  of 
invitation,  for  your  circular  whicli  reached  me  "  licyond  tlie  Mississippi," 
and  which  prompted  my  attendance  on  this  happy  reunion,  Wiien  I 
read  the  names  on  the  circuhxr — Norton,  Loomis,  Sheldon,  S2)encer,  and 
otlier  names  so  familiar  in  early  days,  my  heart  responded  at  once  to  the 
invitation,  and  my  purpose  was  fixed  to  he  here  if  possible.  And  now  I 
am  here  to  mingle  in  these  social  pleasures,  to  hear  the  voices  of  old 
friends,  and  to  look  once  more  into  one  another's  fiices.  Time  has  wrought 
changes  in  many  of  us,  as  well  as  in  other  things.  We  liave  to  look  deep 
down  below  the  UiLea  and  groves — the  marks  of  time — on  our  faces  to  see 
the  soul  once  so  well  known  and  esteemed  ;  but  it  still  lives  and  shines 
out  in  theyWr^,  and  I  rejoice  to  sec  it  there. 

It  is  more  than  fifty  years  since  I  w^ent  out  a  boy  from  this  grnitd  old 
town—\iOVi  grand  only  those  know  who  have  been  abroad — to  enter  upon 
life's  struggles,  to  fight  its  battles,  and  it  is  nearly  forty  years  since  my  ex- 
perience of  life  Ix^gau  "  l)eyond  the  Mississippi,"  then  far  off — a  journey 
of  tiPeiity  daijs  of  diligent  travel— now  a  journey  o^  forty  liours,  and  that 
without  loss  of  sleep — then  a  far  off  land  of  plenty  and  cheapness,  so 
much  so  that  the  farmers  there  used  to  tell  mc  that  a  field  of  corn  of  sixty 
hushcis  to  the  acre  "  would  run  any  man  in  debt  to  ])ick  it."  Now  that 
same  field  is  brought  so  near — thanks  to  your  railroads  that  have  reached 
us — that  it  is  riglit  alongside  of  your  old  pastures,  into  which  the  crop 
can  be  thrown  with  profit  to  the  owner.  The  spirit  of  improvement  has 
wrought  here  also,  as  I  discover  by  the  changes  made  in  this  old  Sufllield 
street — inayiiificent  l>eyond  coinjxirison  witli  any  other  street  east  or  west.  I 
miss  the  building  which  was  in  the  centre  of  the  street,  and  where  I  did 
mischief  as  a  schoolboy  ;  and  a  new  handsome  edifice  has  replaced  the 
"meeting  house"  into  the  belfry  of  which  we  boys  ran  up  and  down  on 
the  lightning-rod  at  pleasure,  and  some  of  the  most  ])resump(uous  even 
up  to  the  ball  on  the  top  of  the  spire. 

But  I  am  not  to  make  a  speech,  and  will  only  remark  further — again 
thanking  you  for  this  privilege — that  my  name  is  Wyllys  King,  son  of 
Zeno  King,  born  in  Suftield — Itorn  on  the  river  rf)ad  once  called  "Feather 
street,"  a  designation  rpiite  signili(;ant,  but  which  I  cannot  now  explain. 
My  grandfather,  Dan  King,  had  fourteen  (■hil(h'('n,  and  tiie  most  of  them 
grew  up,  married,  and  did  something  more  than  "  talk  of  ])o])ulation," 
and  I  am  told  that  his  grandfatlicr  had  nineteen  cliildrrii,  and  at  one  time 
the  name  of  "King"  was  on  a  par  with  that  of  "Smith." 

It  may  not  be  out  of  place  here  to  say  that  as  to  numhers  in  the  familv, 
my  own  blessings  have  been  sucli  tliat  \  neid  not  be  ashamed  to  stand  up 
in  the  presence  of  Kings. 


94 

Rev.  ]\Ir.  Barton  proposed  an  impromptu  toast  as  follows  : 

Our  Siillu^ld  bnuu'li  railroad,  and  (ho  arrival  to-day  of  its  ilrst  train — two  hun- 
dred ycavi  in  comiii;^-,  but  better  late  than  never. 

Tills  toast  was  happily  responded  to  by  S.  A.  Lane,  Esq.,  of  Akron, 
Ohio.  After  giving  some  interesting  statistics  in  regard  to  the  great  in- 
crease and  also  the  great  value  of  railroads  in  Ohio,  and  through  the 
West,  he  expressed  his  joy  that  now  at  length  his  native  town  was  to  reap 
the  rich  benefit  of  this  grand  and  indispensable  instrument  of  civilization. 
In  closing,  he  gave  utterance  to  a  hope — which  at  no  distant  day  will 
doul)tless  be  realized — that  the  Sutlichl  railroad  might  have  an  outlet 
norfhwitrd,  as  it  now  has  southward. 

TliG  farmers  of  Siitlield — the  foundation  of  societ}',  tlic  l)eiief.ietor.^  and  feeders 
of  tlie  publie,  tlic  liope  for  a  tri-eeiiteunial  celebration. 

Responded  to  by  Major  Edwin  P.  Stevens. 

Mr.  Puesident  and  Fellow-Citizens  :  The  sentiment  just  read  is  a 
truth  so  apparent  that  it  needs  no  argument  from  me  to  prove  it.  It  is 
from  the  fields  and  gardens  of  the  husbandman  that  the  table  of  the  great 
kings,  presidents,  and  noldes  are  snpplied,  as  well  as  that  of  the  peasant. 

What  a  change  to-d.ay  from  tliat  those  noble  pioneers  l)eheld,  when  they 
first  came  here  and  l)uilt  their  rude  cabins,  and  made  themselves  a  home, 
and  commenced  the  settlement  of  our  town.  The  dark  forests  and  the 
giant  oaks  have  nearly  disappeared  before  their  sturdy  blows,  and  to-day 
we  look  out  upon  well  cultivated  fields  and  stately  mansions,  where 
wealth  and  prosperity  prevails,  with  joy  and  rejoicings,  in  all  our  hab- 
itations. 

These  beautiful  churches,  these  institutions  of  learning,  stand  like  dia- 
monds in  the  coronet  of  a  prince,  not  only  to  lieautify,  but  to  bless. 

What  changes  another  century  will  bring  it  would  be  difficult  to  pre- 
dict. The  river,  that  marks  our  eastern  Ijoundary  and  gives  name  to  our 
noble  State,  will  flow  on  to  the  ocean ;  the  brooks  will  run  in  their  accus- 
tomed channels;  thel)eautiful  landscapes  and  fertile  valleys  will  be  here; 
those  western  hills,  and  even  old  Manitic,  that  stands  on  (Uir  western  bor- 
der, will  remain  unchanged  and  unchanging — Init  we,  fellow-citizens,  of 
to-day  will  not  be  here  ;  others  will  walk  these  silent  vales;  befin-e  that 
time  we  shall  l)e  gathered  to  our  fathers,  and  shall  sleeji  the  long  sleep  of 
death. 

Let  us  then,  fellow-citizens,  meet  with  promptness  the  duties  of  our 
position,  and  discharge  them  with  fidelity.  Let  us  practice  the  virtues  of 
our  fathers,  and  when  we,  like  them,  shall  have  passed  away,  we  may  have 
the  proud  consciousness  that  our  town  and  the  world  have  been  made 
better  by  our  living  in  it. 


'^/^  ^.^^..^^jA^ 


^^^^^    >^^1^^^     Cye  9yC 


i 


95 

The  oldest  man  in  Siilliekl— Capt.  ApoUos  Phelps. 

Capt.  Phelps  caino  upon  tlu;  stand  and  said:  Mr.  Piesidcnt,  and  t'cllow- 
citizens  :  I  tliank  you  Ibi-  kindl^MrnienibLTin^  nie  on  tliis  d(fj)ly  inler- 
cstinu;  occasion.  I  stand  Ijcfore  you  to-day  the  oldest  man  that  is  an  in- 
habitant of  this  town.  It  was  in  Suflield  that  I  was  born,  in  Suflicld  I 
have  always  lived.  I  have  been  an  active  coteinporary  witli  two  •genera- 
tions tluit  have  passed  away.  May  the  blessin<fs  of  Alniiglity  God  rest 
upon  the  men  and  women  of  Suflicld  to-day,  and  the  ^fenerations  tliat 
are  to  succeed  you  long  after  all  that  is  mortal  of  Apollos  l*helps  shall 
be  reposing  beneath  its  generous  soil. 

Other  voices  tlian  tliose' whose  remarks  are  recorded  gave  utterance  to 
the  thoughts  and  emotions,  which  seemed  to  well  up  spontaneously  in 
every  heart  present,  and  many  others  would  have  been  glad  to  have 
spoken,  but  the  time  of  parting  had  come,  and  the  com^jany  disjiersed, 
each  to  seek  his  own  home  and  the  sphere  to  which  he  was  accustomed  to 
act.  But  all  seemed  to  be  well  satislied  to  have  spent  one  day  in  com- 
memorating the  virtues  of  their  ancestors,  an<l  reviving  the  friendships  of 
earlier  years. 

The  E.xecutive  Committee  desire  to  acknowledge  much  to  the  ladies  of 
Suflield  for  their  aid  in  the  preparation  for  the  taljle,  and  to  all  those  who 
have  assisted  in  the  work  and  labor  attending  tlie  celebration,  as  well  as 
preparing  the  Appendix  for  the  press. 


LETTEES  AND  KEGKETS, 

Rkceivhd  uy  Invitation  Co.mmittee. 

Ravknna,  Ohio,  October  1,  1S7(). 

To   W.M.  L.  LooMis,  Simon  B.   Kendall,  Aleekt  Austin,  Esqs.,  and 

others,  Coiniiiittee,  t.\:c. : 

Gentlemen:  I  have  just  received  your  kind  invitation  to  attend  and 
participate  with  you  and  otliers  in  the  bi-centennial  celebration  of  the 
"Grant  of  tlie  General  Court  of  Boston,  October  13tli,  1G70,"  wiiich  was, 
I  presume,  the  first  eti'ective  movement  f(n*  the  settkunent  of  the  tiien  wil- 
derness, now  tlie  beautiful  and  flourisliing  town  of  Suflield,  our  own  na- 
tive town.  For  this  invitation  I  thank  you,  and  I  assure  you  that  noth- 
ing could  give  me  more  pleasure  than  it  wouhl  to  visit  my  old  native 
place  on  such  an  occasion,  and  view  it  as  it  now  is,  and  associate  with 
those  I  might  find  there,  and  visit  the  graves  of  my  ancestors.  Though 
I  might  find  few  familiar  faces  after  so  long  an  absence,  I  Avould,  no  doubt, 
enjoy  and  duly  ai>preciate  the  friemlly  greeting  of  some  old  friends,  and 
others  of  the  young  generation  that  have  succeeded  the  (lej)arted  ones. 

But  I  am  now  an  old  man,  and  though  enjoying  tolerable  health,  am, 
I  fear,  too  fecljle  to  endnre  the  fatigues,  to  say  nothing  of  the  exj^ense,  of 
a  journey  of  some  700  miles,  even  with  the  advantages  of  the  modern  im- 
provements in  locomotion.  Besides,  to  attend  there  on  the  12th  I  would 
have  to  lose  my  vote  at  our  Ohio  aimual  election,  which  occurs  on  the 
nth  instant,  I  liave  never  yet  faih.'d  to  cast  my  vote  at  an  annual  elec- 
tion in  Ohio  for  near  fifty  years. 

My  father,  Elias  Harmon,  Sen.,  son  of  Deacon  John  Harmon,  died  on 
liis  farm  a  half  mile  west  of  the  West  Sutfield  meeting  house,  in  January, 
1793,  leaving  a  widow  and  eight  children,  of  whom  I  was  the  youngest— 
l)orn  December  lltli,  1789,  and  of  them  all  I  am  now  tlie  only  survivor. 
AVe  all  removed  West,  the  first  in  1799,  myself  in  March,  1803,  and  I  have 
never  re-visited  my  native  State;  have  always  wished  to,  but  never  found 
it  convenient,  and  now  I  expect  I  must  wholly  give  it  up.  asking  of  you 
to  excuse  me  now. 

Accept  now  my  best  wishes  for  a  pleasant  meeting  on  the  13th,  and  tor 
the  future  prosperity  ol"  you  all,  individually,  and  for  my  dear  old  native 
town.  John  IIaij.mon. 

13 


98 

Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  July  20,  1870. 
D.  W.  Norton,  Esq.,  Chairmau,  &c.  : 

My  Deati  Sir  :  Your  csteeuied  favor  of  the  Gtli  inst.,  inviting  me  to  at- 
tend the  coming  Iji-centcnnial  anniversary  of  the  settlement  of  the  town 
of  Suffield,  on  the  11th  and  12th  of  October  next,  is  received,  and  would 
have  been  earlier  answered  but  for  my  absence  from  Buflalo.  Since  my 
arrival  home,  last  Saturday,  I  have  looked  over  my  business  engagements 
and  do  not  see  how  I  can  be  with  you  at  the  time  of  the  celebration.  It 
is  therefore  ])rudent  for  me  ^to  say  to  you  my  attendance  is  so  uncertain 
that  you  cannot  safely  rely  upon  my  being  present  and  taking  a  part  in 
the  ceremonies.  I  can  assure  you  nothing  would  give  me  greater  pleasure 
tlian  to  be  present  with  you  and  to  participate  in  the  interesting  ceremo- 
nies of  that  occasion.  It  is  indeed  an  occasion  which  cannot  but  give 
utterance  to  a  noble,  sublime,  and  expansive  sentiment.  You  will  neces- 
sarily be  carried  back  to  contcmjilate  the  deeds  and  virtues  of  our  ances- 
tors, a  race  of  men  and  women  ever  to  I)e  revered  by  their  descendants, 
for  their  indomitable  energies  and  exalted  virtues.  Heaven  bless  and 
pro.-i])er  you  in  the  jiious  and  dutiful- work  before  you. 

Yours  most  respectfully,  8.  G.  Austin. 

Montgomery,  Ala.,  September  19,  1870. 
lion.  Daniel  W.  Norton,  Chairman: 

Dear  Sir  :  I  have  delayed  a  reply  to  your  invitation  to  meet  the  "  sons 
and  daughters  of  Suffield  "  at  the  celeljration  of  their  bi-centennial  an- 
niversary, hoping  I  might  be  aljle  to  be  present ;  but  that  I  lind  will  be 
impossible,  and  can  only  express  my  regret.  Nothing  would  give  me- 
greater  pleasure  than  to  greet  once  more  the  friends  of  half  a  century, 
and  their  descendants,  aiid  unite  with  them  in  celebrating  the  two  hun- 
dredth anniversary  of  the  birth  of  our  old  mother.  I  am  proud  of  being 
remembered  as  a  son  of  Suffield,  and  of  being  worthy  of  an  invitation  to 
meet  her  distinguished  sons,  and  unite  with  them  in  their  festivities. 
Nearly  forty  years  ago  I  left  her  to  seek  my  fortune  in  a  distant  land ; 
but  I  have  never  ceased  to  remember  her  with  pride,  and  to  feel  a  deep 
interest  in  her  welfare,  and  the  Avelfare  of  her  children.  I  trust  I  shall 
ever  so  remember  her  till  "my  right  hand  shall  forget  its  cunning." 

But,  two  hundred  years !  How  long!  and  yet  how  short  when  Ire- 
member  that  I  have  seen  more  than  one  fourtli  of  them  roll  away.  What 
changes  have  been  wrought  within  my  recollection  !  How  many  loved 
ones  have  passed  away  to  return  no  more !  In  your  cemetery  sleeps  tlie 
dust  of  my  parents  and  ancestors,  with  many  dear  friends.  I  confess  to 
a  feeling  of  sadness  at  the  recollection. 

Thanking  you,  Mr,  Chairman,  and  through  you  the  Executive  Commit- 
tee—several of  AVhom  I  remember  as  the  friends  of  my  youth— for  your 
kind  invitation,  permit  me  to  hope  that  the  futtire  liistoiy  of  "old  Suf- 
Held"  may  be  even  more  glorious  than  its  past— that  its  record  of  bright 


99 

names  may  be  even  more  illustrious  than  the  preceding  one — that  her 
"  sons  may  be  as  plants,  grown  up  in  their  youth;  that  her  daughters 
may  be  as  corner-stones,  polished  after  the  siniiiitudc  of  a  palace  ;  that 
her  garners  may  be  full,  allbrding  all  manner  of  store,"  and  that  the  hap- 
piness and  prosperity  of  her  children  may  continue  to  the  end. 

I  am,  dear  sir,  very  truly  yours,  Wm.  11.  Smith. 

PUOVIDEXCK,  Pv.  I.,  Oct.  10,  1S70. 
To  D.  W.  Norton,  Esq.,  and  Associates  : 

Gentlemen:  Your  note  of  invitation  to  ])articii)ati'  in  the  ccjclinition 
of  the  approaching  bi-centennial  anniva-rsary  of  the  sctllenicnt  o/  SuMield 
came  duly  to  hand.  I  should  liave  replied  weeks  ago  had  I  not  hoped  to  be 
present  on  the  occasion.  But  this  satisfaction  I  am  compelled  reluctantly 
to  forego. 

In  common  with  the  good  people  of  my  native  town,  I  feel  that  I  owe 
a  del)t  of  gratitude  to  the  brave  men  who  laid  the  foundations  of  that 
municipality.  Though  it  is  now  thirty-five  years  since  I,  a  stripling,  left  the 
town,  yet  the  influence  of  early  association  and  companionship  is  felt  to- 
day. The  industrial  habits  of  the  people  among  whom  my  youth  was 
passed,  their  regard  for  education  and  morality,  and  their  respect  for  the 
institutions  of  Christianity,  I  reckon  among  the  best  educational  influ- 
ences which  I  enjoye<l  in  early  life.  I  owe  to  them  more  to-day  than  to 
any  institutions  of  learning. 

Gladly,  therefore,  Avouldl  unite  with  you  in  paying  a  deserved  triliule 
to  those  who  have  passed  away,  but  whose  works  still  praise  them.  ]\Iay 
the  next  hi-centennial  fuid  tlie  princi2)les  and  practices  of  Ihc  f;\lhcrs  nour- 
ishing in  full  vigor  among  their  descendants. 

With  sentiments  of  respect  I  iim  your  ohedicnt  servant, 

A.  II.  GUANfJER. 

Grii.KOHi),  Sept.  I'.l,  18T0. 
D.  ^V.  Norton,  Esq. : 

Dear  Sir:  Please  accept  the  sincere  thanks  of  myself  and  family  for 
the  kind  invitation  your  committee  have  given  us  to  be  present  at  your 
bi-centennial  anniversary  on  the  12th  of  October  next.  Be  assured  it 
would  afford  me  great  i)leasure  to  comply  with  this  invitation  ;  but  such 
is  th(!  state  of  my  health  that  I  shall  not  be  able  to  be  with  you  on  the 
deeply  interesting  occasion.  The  part  which  you  kindly  proposed  for  me 
must,  of  couise,  be  given  to  some  one  else. 

Very  respectfully  yours,  IIenrv  Pouinson. 


100 

]\Iendot.\,  La  Salle  Co.,  III.,  Oct.  1,  1870. 

My  Dear  ELizAnETii  P.  Piiilleo  :  Your  welcome  letter  dated  Septem- 
ber 26tli  was  duly  received,  for  which  I  thank  you  and  those  extending  a 
kind  invitation  to  me  and  my  wife,  to  attend  the  cele])ration  pending  on 
the  12th  of  October,  at  Suffield.  You  ask  my  sentiments  in  regard  to 
such  occasions.  I  reply  my  mind  is  occui^icd  with  the  scenes  of  the  future 
state  of  my  being.  I  am  in  the  84th  year  of  my  age.  My  hope  in  CTod  is 
unshaken  amid  all  the  revolutions  and  changes  of  a  protracted  life.  "We 
live  in  an  era  of  great  interest  and  surprising  changes.  The  next  great 
event  in  the  unfolding  purposes  of  God,  I  tliink,  will  be  tlie  restoration 
of  the  Jews  to  the  land  of  their  fathers.  Russia,  from  indications  plainly 
manifest,  will  be  employed  as  the  favored  instrument  to  remove  the  ob- 
stacles in  the  way  of  their  return. 

Russia  may  have  no  higher  motive  than  her  own  aggrandizement  in 
the  enlargement  of  her  own  vast  empire.  Tlie  Jews,  wherever  located, 
though  possessed  of  vast  wealth,  are  not  the  owners  of  real  estate ;  con- 
sequently they  stand  ready  at  the  i)rovidential  signal  to  march  in  rank 
and  file,  under  the  banner  of  the  great  Shepherd  of  Israel,  to  possess  the 
land  promised  to  their  fathers,  I  am  no  prophet,  and  would  not  be 
curious  to  pry  into  the  secret  things  of  God,  but  study  them  cnrcfuUy  and 
prayerfully  as  the  opening  leaves  unfold.  Infidels  are  everywhere  exult- 
ing over  their  fancied  victories  over  "the  Christiaji  religion.  How  vain 
are  their  hopes ;  sudden  and  final  will  l)e  their  overthrow.  "The  Lord 
reigns ;  let  the  earth  rejoice ;  let  the  multitude  of  the  isles  thereof  be  glad." 
"  Glory  to  God  in  the  highest ;  peace  on  earth  and  good  will  toward 
men.'"  And  let  the  whole  earth  be  filled  witli  His  glory.  Amen,  and 
amen. 

I  like  to  have  forgotten  Suffield  altogether  in  my  flight  of  thought. 
But  I  still  remember  her,  and  feel  happy  to  know  that  I  am  kindly  re- 
membered. I  well  remember  after  being  in  an  extensive  revival  of 
religion  in  the  State  of  New  York,  I  took  a  journey  eastward  and  called 
on  Elder  Cushman  in  Hartford,  to  visit  and  hear  preaching.  But  he 
urged  me  to  go  to  Suflield— perhaps  God  would  bless  my  labors.  I  com- 
plied with  his  urgent  request.  I  found  the  people  without  a  pastor,  and 
somewhat  divided.  I  appointed  a  meeting.  The  people  gathered,  and 
God  blessed  the  word,  and  many  wore  added  to  the  church.  I  staj^cd  in 
Suffield  and  enjoyed  a  second  glorious  revival.  I  goj;  permission  of  the 
c'.uirch  and  congregation  of  leave  of  absence  for  four  or  five  weeks  to  visit 
Pawtucket,  R.  I.,  in  compliance  with  an  earnest  request  of  the  churcli  in 
that  place,,  hoping  and  praying  that  God  would  l^less  my  labors  there  as 
he  had  in  other  places.  I  left  home  in  my  own  conveyance.  I  arrived 
there  after  two  days'  travel.  I  reached  Pawtucket  late  in  the  afternoon. 
A  meeting  was  appointed  in  the  vestry  in  the  evening.  Tlie  bell  was 
rung,  the  peo]>le  soon  filled  the  vestry  to  overfiowing.  T  felt  sure  that 
God  would  bless  the  word  to  the  salvation  of  souls.     I  obtained  tliis  evi- 


101 

deuce  on  nij'  way  tliitlicr.  Jly  prayers  found  a  place  at  tlic  tlironc  of 
grace.  A  work  of  CJod  that  very  evening  connnenced,  and  extended  over 
all  that  region.  Here  I  was  brought  to  a  stand.  I  could  not  labor  in 
Siillield  and  Pawtuckct.  I  finally,  with  great  reluctance,  decided  to  go 
to  Pawtuckct.  I  never  found  a  kinder  people  than  the  people  of  Suftield. 
I  preached  twice  on  the  Saljliath,  and  then  in  the  evening  to  Boston  Neck, 
tlien  to  Cliristian  street,  (so-called,)  at  Simon  KendalTs  school  house,  Hikes' 
school  house ;  to  complete  the  circle  at  the  Sheldon  school  house,  near 
jMartin  Sheldon,  Esf^.     These  meetings  were  always  well  attended. 

I  have  written  during  my  life  a  cart  full  of  manuscript,  but  never  read  one 
in  my  whole  ministerial  life  and  called  it  ijreaching.  A  minister  should 
feel  a  consciousness  that  he  is  called  of  God  to  his  high  and  holy  calling 
before  he  enters  upon  his  work,  and  enter  into  it  with  all  his  heart  and 
soul,  looking  up  to  Him  for  aid  and  success.  A  man  not  conscious  of  tliis 
inward  call  to  the  ministry  must  feel  reproved  every  step  he  takes  with 
these  words  sounding  in  his  ears:  "Who  hath  required  this  at  your 
hands? '' 

To  return  again  to  Sullield.  The  church  I)clieved  in  the  practice  of 
opening  the  doors  after  preaching,  to  give  time  and  opportunity  to  any 
who  might  feel  it  their  duty  to  drop  a  Avord  of  exhortation  warm  from 
the  heart.  (This  practice  was  customary  in  the  church  in  the  State  of 
IMew  York,  where  I  enjoyed  my  first  meml)ership.)  Capt.  Apollos  Phelps 
sometimes  would  burst  like  a  bombshell  upon  the  congregation,  whii-ii 
made  that  old  meeting-house  crack  again,  and  the  church  felt  warmed, 
awakened  and  comforted  under  such  a  ])0werful  explosion,  coming  from 
a  lieart  filled  with  the  love  of  God.  Sister  Gunn,  Deacon  Gunn's  wife, 
would  rise  to  speak,  stand  erect  in  the  door  full  six  feet,  would  jiourout  a 
warm  exhortation  full  of  good  sense  and  comfort.  She  was  a  strong  woman 
physically  and  mentally.  To  carry  out  her  views  of  the  rights  of  women, 
she  went  into  the  mowing  and  harvest  fields  and  performed  the  work  of 
men  and  received  men's  wages,  though  she  was  independent  in  her  cir- 
c-unistances — her  husband  was  a  prosjierous  farmer.  The  evening  meet- 
ings were  conducted  in  the  same  manner  as  in  the  meeting-house.  Where 
the  gifts  of  the  church  are  all  locked  up,  (he  ministers  preach  ail,  pray  all, 
say  all,  do  all,  control  all,  mould  all,  and  he  mounted  on  his  ministerial 
saddle,  whip  and  si)ur  in  hand — that  church  is  "dead,  twice  dead."  To 
come  back  again  to  Sullield.  I  never  set  a  price  on  my  2)reaching  and 
pastoral  lalmrs.     I  think  they  raised  on  subscription,  about  $300  a  year. 

Suffield  was  a  farming  town.  ]\Iy  real  wants  were  supplied  from  their 
abundance  above  and  beyond  their  subscription.  If  they  had  any  good 
things  I  was  sure  to  share  a  part  with  them.  In  West  Sullield  a  Baptist 
church  vfiin  organized  at  quite  an  early  day.  Old  Elder  Morse  was  their 
l)astor.  He  had  been  down  to  Hartford  in  the  course  of  the  w'cck  to  at- 
tend a  religious  meeting,  and  returning  early  Sunday  morning  to  West 
Suflleld  to  preach,  as  usual,  passing  through  Windsor,  he  was  accosted 


102 

wliere  lie  was  traveling  on  tlic  holy  Sabbath  {  lie  re2)lie(l  he  was  going 
to  West  SufRehl.  He  was  told  to  dismount  from  his  horse  and  stay  in  their 
house  till  Monday  morning,  and  then  he  might  go  on  his  way.  He  plead 
with  them  to  let  him  pass  on  ;  he  would  disturl)  no  one.  He  bid  them 
good  morning,  put  whip  to  his  horse,  and  was  on  his  way  to  West  Sut- 
fleld.  The  standing  order  mounted  their  horses  and  jDursued,  determined 
to  bring  him  back  to  Windsor,  to  be  tried  for  breaking  the  holy  Sab- 
bath. The  elder  led  them  on,  keeping  a  little  ahead  of  them,  till  they  all 
arrived  in  front  of  the  meeting-house,  on  Zion's  Hill,  so  called,  where  a 
vast  multitude  of  people  were  gathered. 

The  elder  dismounted  and  turned  and  addressed  his  pursuers  and  per- 
secutors :  "  Gentlemen,  here  is  where  I  preach,  and  if  you  will  go  into 
the  meeting  and  hear  me  preach,  you  may  then  go  home  to  Windsor ; 
otherwise  I  will  complain  of  you  for  breaking  the  holy  Sabbath,  as  you 
call  it.''  The  men  complied  with  the  terms  proposed,  and  went  on  their 
way  back  to  Windsor  ashamed  and  confounded. 

Thus,  I  have  written  a  few  broken,  disconnected  thoughts.  It  is 
poorly  written,  but  I  cannot  conveniently  re-write  it.  My  best  love  to  you 
and  your  family,  and  all  wlio  remember  and  enquire  after  me.  My  spirit 
will  be  with  the  people  of  Suflield  on  the  13th  of  October.  Looking  at 
the  present  condition  of  our  country,  I  rejoice  with  trembling.  Who  will' 
celel)rate  this  day  one  hundred  years  hence  ? 


From  your  aftectionatc  fither  and  friend, 


Calvin  Philleo. 


Mendota,  Oct.  3,  18T0. 


Dear  Elizabeth  :  Although  I  was  never  a  resident  of  SufReld,  any- 
thing done  in  the  State  of  Connecticut,  where  I  so  long  resided,  becomes 
to  me  very  interesting.  It  is,  in  my  estimation,  a  noble  act  to  celel)rate 
in  after  time  great  and  noble  deeds.  I  presume  on  this  occasion  you  will  have 
a  grand  mental  exhibition  of  the  vast  improvements  that  have  been  made 
in  the  administration  of  the  government  of  the  American  people  since  the 
days  of  British  rule.  I  should  indeed  be  glad  to  be  with  you,  and  listen 
to  the  glowing  eloquence  that  will  doubtless  be  displayed  on  the  occasion. 

I  hope  the  ladies  will  be  remenil)ercd  during  this  bi-centennial  and 
some  suitable  credit  given  to  them  for  the  many  heroic  and  philanthropic 
deeds  they  have  performed  during  the  growth  of  our  national  republic. 

Affectionately  yours. 

Prudence  Cuandall  Philt^eo. 


103 

V.'iL.MiNGTON,  III.,  Oct.  0,  1870. 

Wir.LiAM  L.  LooMi.s,  Esq.,  and  others  of  the  Coniniittee  of  Invitation  : 

Deau  Suis:  Throuuh  tlie  kindness  of  friends,  I  have  liad  tlie  pleasure 
of  reeeivini,',  1)y  your  printed  circular,  an  invitation  to  attend  the  second 
bi  centennial  anniversary,  to  belield  in  Sullield,  Oct.  12tli,  instant. 

I  much  regret  that  my  engagements  will  not  adiiiil  of  my  participation 
in  your  interesting  celebration.  Although  a  tliousand  miles  away  from 
you,  out  upon  the  broad  prairies  of  Illinois,  wliose  i)opuhition  now  ex- 
ceeds two  and  a  half  millions  of  people,  in  the  midst  of  the  movements 
incident  to  the  development  of  the  almost  immeasuraljle  wealth  which 
nature,  with  a  lavish  hand,  has  stored  away  within  its  Ijoundarics,  as  one 
of  the  descendants  referred  to  in  your  circular,  and  as  an  Illinoian,  I  send 
you  a  hearty  friendly  greeting. 

Although  not  a  native  of  SuAkIiI,  yet  the  name  is  like  that  of  a  house- 
hold word.  Neitlier  am  I  altogether  a  stranger ;  for  of  Connecticut,  my  na- 
tive State,  I  am  justly  proud.  New  England  and  Illinois  have  many  in- 
terests in  common — pecuniary,  commercial,  friendly,  fraterntd.  The  ties 
binding  them  together  fast  and  strong  are  innumeraljle.  New  England 
enterprise  and  wealth  have  materially  aided  in  the  development  of  tlie 
great  interests  of  the  West,  and  no  State  has  profited  more  largely  in 
these  benefits  than  Illinois.  You  require  the  products  of  our  mines  and 
our  soil.     AVe  of  your  looms  and  manufactories. 

Here  the  genius  and  enterprise  of  your  surplus  po])ulation  can  find 
ample  room  for  rich  expansion.  Wherever  they  go,  or  wherever  they  are, 
the  sons  of  New  England  will  not  be  unmindful  of  their  origin,  and  never 
Avill  they  forget  the  land  of  steady  habits.  The  history  and  reminiscences 
of  your  locality  for  the  last  two  centuries  the  sons  of  SulHeld  and  their 
descendants  will  delight  to  contemplate.  And  the  reunion  of  those  that 
have  wandered  far  and  wide  T  trust  will  lie  under  the  most  favorable 
auspices. 

Again  I  shall  express  my  deep  regret  at  not  being  able  to  join  you  on 
so  memorable  an  occasion.  Thanking  you  for  your  zeal  and  enterj)rise  in 
arranging  the  celebration  of  so  important  an  event  in  the  history  of  Suf- 
tield,  for  the  interest  you  have  manifested  in  its  sons  and  daughters  and 
their  descendants,  and  for  the  invitation  to  me,  one  of  the  descendants  of 
Ebenezer  Hathaway,  I  will  express  the  liojie  that  your  nu)st  favorable  an- 
ticipations may  be  realizeil,  and  the  day  you  celebrate  Ijc  remembered  for 
another  hundred  years. 

With  much  interest  in  your  welfare, 

I  am  your  most  obedient  servant, 

David  U.  Coni;. 


104 

Zanesville,  Ohio,  Oct.  10,  1870. 
Messrs.  Wm.  L.  Loomis,  ami  otliers  of  the  Committee  on  Invitation,  &c. : 

Gentlemen  ;  On  my  return  liome  from  my  fall  circuit  I  found  your 
note  awaiting  me,  extending  a  cordial  invitation  to  meet  with  the  people 
of  Suffield  on  the  12tli  day  of  October,  and  join  in  their  l)i-centcnnial 
anniversary  celebration. 

Although  born  in  Ohio,  Suffield  was  the  home  of  my  ancestry,  and  in- 
deed, if  family  tradition  be  true,  Lancelot  Granger,  my  great-great-great- 
grandfather, who,  married  Joanna,  daughter  of  "  Robert  Adams  of  New- 
bury," on  the  4th  day  of  January,  1654,  was  one  of  the  original  settlers 
of  your  town.  Having  made  several  pilgrimages  to  the  old  homestead 
on  Taintor  Hill  since  I  came  to  manhood,  I  am  not  altogether  a  stranger 
to  the  town,  and  was  pleased  to  note,  when  hist  there,  (in  18GG),  that 
while  so  much  of  Avhat  was  old  remained  to  remind  of  people  and  years 
that  are  past,  there  was  also  so  much  of  improvement  in  buildings  and 
grounds  as  proved  that  age  had  not  taken  away  tlie  vigor  of  the 
town  ;  that  while  the  stern  virtues  that  belonged  to  the  founders  may 
have  gone  into  the  j^ast  along  with  the  times  and  circumstances  that 
moulded  or  were  moulded  by  them,  their  successors,  now  resident  in  quiet 
safety  and  comfort  where  their  ancestors  maintained  themselves  l)y  cour- 
age and  endurance,  amid  privation  and  danger,  exhibit  their  full  share  of 
the  virtues  of  a  generation,  whose  duty  it  is  to  improve,  adorn,  and  beau- 
tify ;  whose  energies  must  be  applied  in  the  direction  of  education,  pro- 
duction, culture,  and  comfort.  But  if  I  do  not  cry  halt,  my  jxn  will,  I 
fear,  successfully  accomplish  what  more  properly  pertains  to  an  (oujur. 

Duties  in  Ohio  forl)id  my  bodily  presence  in  Connecticut  on  the  12th 
inst.  I  will  oil  that  day  try  to  be  with  you  in  mind.  Rest  assured  that 
many  sons  and  grandsons  of  Suffield  who  must  remain  away  from  your 
celebration  will  on  that  day  be  thinking  of  wliat  you  are  doing  and  re- 
"•rettin-j-  their  inabilitv  to  be  in  old  Suffield  on  her  two  hundredth  birth- 
day.  Very  respectfully  yours, 

MoSES    M.    GliANOEK. 

St.  Louis,  Oct.  4,  1870. 
To    Daniel   W.   Nouton,    Simon   B.    Keni>ai-l,   Wm.   L.   Loomis,  Gad 

Sheldon,  Hezekiaii  S.  Sheldon,  T.  IIezekiaii  Spencek,  and  Uenuy 

M.  Sykes,  greeting : 

Your  note  to  S.  A.  Lane,  Esfj.,  of  Akron,  Ohio,  inviting  himself  and 
family,  wliieh  I  suppose  includes  myself,  to  the  bi-centennial  anniversary 
at  Suffield,  Oct.  11th  and  12tli,  Avas  read  by  me,  and  being  unable  to  at- 
tend personally,  I  thought  perhaps  a  few  lines  from  me  would  be  accept- 
able. 

Born  January  9th,  1810,  I  am  of  course  00  years  old,  and  can  call  to 

mind  events  of  the  past  for  more  than  a  ({uarter  of  that  200  years,  enough 

»to  till  a  volume;  but  I  am  aware  such  letters  must   be  short.     I  am  some- 


105 

what  in  tlie  condition  of  my  fellow-bookseller,  Oliver  Ditson,  of  Boston, 
who  being  asked  to  say  grace  at  a  large  clani-bake  near  the  seashore,  and 
not  being  used  to  it,  got  along  very  well  till  near  the  close,  and  not  know- 
ing how  to  end,  says:  "  Oh,  Lord  !  Very  respectfully  yours,  Oliver 
Ditson." 

Among  the  many  friends  born  in  Suffield,  you  will  have  my  "big 
brother,"  of  the  Summit  Beacon,  and  also  the  Hon.  Wyllys  King,  of  this 
city.  You  must  call  out  these  gentlemen  for  five  or  ten  minutes'  speeches. 
I  think  tlioy  will  have  something  to  say.  Oh,  how  I  would  like  to  be  with 
you. 

I  met  my  old  friend  and  faithful  teaclier,  Mr.  Reuben  Granger,  in 
Chicago  last  week,  and  arm  in  arm  we  walked  about  the  city  nearly  one 
day.  lie  had  received  your  printed  document,  with  invitation  to  be  with 
you  and  take  part  in  the  exercises,  but  will  not  be  able  to  attend.  Now 
73  years  old,  and  smart  and  active  in  business,  the  same  good  man,  and 
has  the  haliit  of  saying  "I  will  do  thus  and  so,  Providence  permitting  ;  " 
and  his  father,  Capt.  Rufus  Granger,  used  a  similar  expression — "  the  door 
of  Providence  opening."  Gideon  Granger,  the  former  Postmaster  General 
under  Jefferson,  and  also  Madison,  once  said  to  him  :  "  Cousin  Rufus,  you 
must  be  an  important  personage — deity  for  a  doorkeei:)er."  Dr.  Ira  Hatch, 
of  Chicago,  formerly  from  Springfield,  Mass.,  says  to  me:  "  Comfort, have 
you  brought  me  that  Ijook,  the  title  of  which  I  suggested,  viz.  :  '  Tlie  Quips 
and  Quirks  of  a  Bachelor ;  or,  the  Reminiscences  of  Comfort  V.  Lane,  of 
Crooked  Lane,  near  Springfield,  Mass.'  "  Dr.  Hatch,  and  brother,  too, 
think  it  would  be  a  literary  curiosity  to  take  a  look  into  that  big  trunk 
of  mine,  which  is  a  third  full  of  letters,  some  of  them  received  40  and 
even  50  jears  ago,  carefully  filed  away,  having  passed  over  the  road  from 
and  to  St.  Louis  some  dozen  times. 

Speaking  of  "  Crooked  Lane,"  I  do  not  sujipose  it  was  so  named  be- 
cause we,  as  a  family,  were  particularly  crooked  or  dishonest.  Accoixling 
to  Henry  IM.  Sykes'  record,  avc  seem  to  come  "  straight  "  down  from  the  first 
settlement  of  Suffield  in  105.5 — Samuel  Lane,  1st,  do.  2d,  do.  3d,  Gad  Lane, 
Comfort  Lane,  Comfort  V.  Lane ;  and  once  speaking  to  a  friend  of  being 
of  English  descent,  and  not  myself  large  of  statue,  he  observed  :  "Rather 
rajiid  descent." 

I  think  you  will  bear  me  witness,  nor  think  me  egotistical,  if  I  sjicak  of 
my  good  father.  Comfort  Lane,  as  an  honest,  upright  man,  and  much  be- 
loved in  your  good  old  town;  and  I  was  much  gratified,  some  twenty 
years  ago,  in  coming  over  the  Berkshire  hills,  in  the  old-fiishioned  stage 
coach,  to  learn  from  the  driver,  Mr.  Chaffee,  who  owned  the  coach,  that  I 
was  riding  over  the  gear-work  built  by  my  own  father,  nearly  twenty 
years  before.  He  built  of  strong  and  solid  material,  and  his  work  lasted 
almost  equal  to  "  The  one-horse  shay,  which  ran  a  hundred  years  to  a 
day  ; "  and  he  remarked,  "  Your  fiither  was  too  honest  to  get  rich." 

Well,  friends,  I  would  rather  have  that  inheritance  than  riches.  A 
plain   marljle  slab  marks  the  spot,   with  this  simple  inscrii)tion  :  "  Mr. 

11 


106 

Comfort  Lane  ;  died  Sept.  21,  1828  ;  aged  45."  And  as  I  stood  there  last 
June,  alone,  I  said  within  myself,  "  the  friends  of  my  youth,  -where  are 
they?"  and  a  "still  small  voice"  seemed  to  say,  "where?" 

Some  of  you  still  remain ;  others  are  scattered  in  the  great  North 
and  Southwest,  some  South,  and  a  few  in  foreign  lands.  But  the 
great  multitude  are  in  the  silent  grave.  "  Low  their  heads  lie  beneath  the 
clods  of  the  valley.  Silent  are  their  slumljcrs  in  the  grave,  and  they  un- 
conscious of  all  that  is  passing  l)eneatli  the  sun. 

We  do  well  to  cherish  their  memories  and  their  virtues,  and  when  we 
visit  the  place  Avhere  the  precious  dust  rests,  not  to  look  down  into  the 
cold,  dark  grave — for  there  is  no  comfort  there — but  to  look  up,  and  walk 
cheerfully  on  to  the  end,  and  in  looking  uj), 

"  Heaven's  own  liji'lit  dispels  tlji'  gloom, 
SLines  downward  from  eternal  day, 
And  casts  a  glory  round  tlic  toml)." 

But  perhaps  I  am  getting  too  serious.  In  leaving  the  grave  of  my 
father  I  went  to  Zion's  Hill.  I  have  seen  much  of  American  scenery,  but 
never  realized  before  that  1  was  born  in  such  a  beautiful  town.  As  you 
stand  on  Zion'sIIill,  say  some  pleasant,  clear  day  in  June,  and  look  around 
you,  there  is  not  a  single  spot  but  that  the  eye  rests  with  complacency, 
pleasure,  and  delight. 

Mt.  Tom  and  Ilolyoke  north,  the  Russell,  Bianford,  and  Berkshire  hills 
west,  the  Tolland  mountains  east,  and  the  hills  and  valleys  olT  toward 
Hartford  and  New  Haven.  The  l)eautiful  allusion,  familiar  to  you  all, 
may  come  in  place  here,  where  a  distinguished  lecturer  speaks  of  the 
sainted  Peter,  borne  on  angel  wings  to  heaven's  gates.  St.  Peter  meets 
him  there  and  asks  who  comes  ?  Peter,  from  Sutheld,  is  the  meek  reply. 
"  Well,  Peter,  Ave  welcome  you  here,  but  rather  advise  you  to  return  to 
that  country.     It  is  a  pleasanter  country  than  this." 

Well,  friends,  when  I  relate  that  story  here  they  smile  and  say,  that 
will  do  for  Sutlield  people  to  tell.  How  it  would  be  with  St.  Louis  I 
cannot  say  ;  but  of  Chicago  there  is  a  story  often  told,  the  first  man  wiio 
went  up  to  the  golden  gates  to  ask  admittance,  St.  Peter  could  find  no 
such  place  on  the  map,  and  no  person  from  there  had  ever  entered.  Per- 
haps because  no  mountain,  hill,  or  valley,  or  river  of  pure  water  is  there, 
the  "  streams  whereof  make  glad." 

Well,  back  to  "Crooked  Lane."  I  shall  conllne  myself  to  the  district 
where  I  first  saw  the  light,  and  my  spiice  will  not  allow  me  even  to  write 
the  names  of  those  who  have  passed  away  in  my  memory  tliere. 

Fresh  in  my  memory  to-day  are  the  heads  of  families  who  have  de- 
parted; commencing  in  rotaticm  and  going  north,  John  Bouker  King,  and 
his  brother  Epaphras  King,  Chauncy  Stiles,  David  Curtiss,  John  Fitch  Par- 
sons, Jonah  King,  Amos  Sikes,  1st  and  2d  Henry  Wright,  Comfort  Lane, 
Jonathan  Remington.  Apollos  Fuller,  Gamaliel  Fuller,  Julius  King,  Calvin 
Adams,  Thaddeus  Sikes,  Horace  Gideon  Sikes,  Daniel  Sikes,  Julius  Fow- 


107 

ler,  the  Adamses,  and  many  others,  liave  served  their  time  and  ueneratioH, 
and  have  passed  away. 

To  tlie  Honorable  Committee  of  the  Bi-Centennial  Celebration :  Greeting: 
Some  of  you  the  companions  of  my  youth,  and  all  my  friends  in  riper 
years.  Sixty  years  of  age  !  It  does  not  seem  possible.  I  feel  to-day  the 
sprightliness  and  activity  of  youth,  and  am  thankful  to  Almighty  God  for 
his  preserving  care.  About  thirty  years  of  active  business  life,  and  hav- 
ing divided  that  time  between  the  four  great  cities,  Boston,  New  York, 
Chicago,  and  St.  Louis,  I  have  come  in  contact  with  the  wide,  wide  Avorld 
more  than  you  who  have  remained  at  home.  Tlie  flight  of  time — oh,  how 
rapid  I — whirled  and  pushed  on  in  life's  busy  scenes,  the  end  irill  come. 
We  have  much  to  do  w'ith  earth  and  earthly  things,  and  will  have  to  ren- 
der a  strict  account  of  our  stewai'dship  here. 

Our  great  moral  Leader  once  said  :  "  My  Father  hitherto  worked,  and 
I  work,"  showing  that  He  was  not  above  i)hysical  labor  or  his  duty  here. 

Let  us  so  fulfil  our  mission  here  that  when  the  summons  shall  come  we 
may  hear  tlie  welcome  plaudit,  "servant  of  God,  well  done;  thou  hast 
been  faithful  to  thy  trust  on  earth;  come  up  higiicr  to  tlie  employment 
and  the  glories  of  the  upper  world." 

Our  jiath  in  this  life  is  often  circuitous,  and  we  feel  at  every  move  the 
thorns  of  the  wilderness  ;  yet  He  who  guides  will  lead  us  l)y  a  "  right 
way,"  even  unto  a  "  city  of  habitation."  Wherefore  let  us  cond'ort  each 
other  with  these  words.  Co.mkokt  V.  Lane. 


Boston,  October  10,  1870. 
My  De.vr  Mil.  Norton  :  I  returned  home  yesterday  from  a  visit  to 
Duxbury,  and  found  the  invitation  to  be  present  in  Suffield  on  the  12th 
iust.,  at  the  bi-centennial  celebration  of  the  settlement  of  your  beautiful 
town.  I  was  born  in  the  town  of  Amenia,  New  York,  l)ut  was  born  into 
New  England  life  at  the  age  of  thirteen,  when  I  removed  with  my  father 
to  Suffield.  I  was  old  enough  to  appreciate  in  some  degree  the  exceeding 
beauty  of  Suffield,  and  to  notice  the  contrast  between  the  newer  civiliza- 
tion in  which  I  had  livt^d,  and  the  comparatively  old  and  cultivated 
scenery  which  distinguishes  Suffield.  I  remendjer  the  old  church,  from 
the  steeple  of  which  we  were  told  Gen.  Washington  himself  had  looked 
and  praised  the  beauty  of  the  scene  which  was  spread  (nit  before  his  eyes. 
I  can  recall  the  picture  at  tlie  distance  of  nearly  4.")  years.  I  attended 
Reuben  Granger's  school,  and  was  for  a  few  months  a  pupil  of  Parson 
Gay — indeed,  I  received  all  the  educaticm  I  ever  received  at  school  in 
SulReld.  It  was  somewhat  singular  that  years  after  my  only  ))rother 
should  settle  in  this  same  old  town  ;  and  first  by  his  marriage  with  your 
daughter,  and  finally  by  laying  all  that  was  mortal  in  the  burial  groun<l, 
his  pen  has  described  in  such  glowing  Avords,  he  has  invested  Sufiield  witli 
a  tender  claim  on  my  remembrance,  making  all  that  concerns  its  affairs 
and  welfare  interesting  to  me. 


108 

I  am  greatly  obliged  to  you  for  counting  me  as  one  of  the  large  family 
of  Suffield's  children,  and  should  be  proud  to  be  j^resent  as  the  represen- 
tative of  my  father  and  brother ;  but  circumstances  forbid,  and  I  must 
relinquish  my  chance  of  celebrating  a  bi-centennial,  for  I  am  almost  60, 
and,  with  a  large  number  of  those  who  will  join  in  this  shall  have  been 
gathered  to  the  generations  gone  before  long  ere  another  occasion  like 
this  returns. 

Accept  my  best  wishes  for  the  pleasant  celebration  of  the  day,  and  be- 
lieve me  yours  with  respect,  E.  C.  Whipple. 

Trov,  Miami  Co.,  Onio,  Oct.  6,  1870. 
Committee  of  the  Bi-Ccntennial  Anniversary,  Suffield,  Conn. : 

Gentlemen:  Your  note  inviting  me  to  be  with  you  Oct.  12th  was  re- 
ceived last  evening,  forwarded  by  my  brother,  I  regret  exceedingly  that 
it  will  not  be  convenient  for  me  to  comply  with  your  request.  I  look 
back  with  pleasure  to  my  native  town.  Always  feel  interested  in  its 
prosperity. 

Hoping  you  may  have  a  pleasant  and  ^jrofitable  reunion,  I  remain  yours 
respectfully,  Fanny  Parsons. 

WAsniNGTON,  Oct.  7,  1870. 
Dear  Mrs.  Philleo  : 

I  received  your  letter  this  morning,  enclosing  an  invitation  to  me 
to  be  present  at  the  celebration  of  the  two  hundredth  anniversary 
of  my  native  town,  Suffield,  Conn.  The  infirmities  of  age  will  prevent 
my  participating  in  jierson  in  this  interesting  event.  It  must  now  be  re- 
membered I  am  one  of  her  oldest  daughters.  My  father  removed  me  to 
Washington  City  the  fall  of  1810.  Sixty  years  have  passed,  and  my  pil- 
grimage numbers  almost  eighty-five  years.  The  scenes  and  events  of 
early  days  are  now  vividly  before  my  mind,  and  memory  recalls  some  of 
the  fathers  of  the  names  of  those  who  constitute  the  committee  of  invi- 
tation, to  whom  I  return  my  respects. 

Mrs.  B.  p.  Fletcher. 


:^^i.c^ 


DEACON  HENRY  A.  SYKES, 


Was  born  in  Suffield,  September  22, 1810.  At  tlie  early  age  of  five  years  he 
was  left  an  orplian,  and  lived  ■nitli  liis  grandfather,  Victory  Sykes,  until  of 
suitable  age  he  was  put  to  learning  the  art  of  architect  and  builder,  with 
Mr.  Chauncey  Shepherd,  of  Springfield,  IMass.  Subsequently  he  pursued 
the  study  of  architecture,  under  the  tuition  of  Ithiel  Towne,  Esq. 

His  skill  and  taste  as  an  architect  were  of  a  superior  order,  of  wliich 
there  are  many  proofs  in  the  surrounding  towns ;  part  of  the  buildings 
connected  witli  Amherst  College,  residences  and  churches  in  Greenfield, 
Mass.,  many  stores  and  private  residences  in  Springfield,  were  built  under 
his  superintendence,  and  according  to  plans  of  his  design.  And  not  to 
mention  more,  the  Second  Baptist  Church,  and  the  building  now  used  by  tlie 
Hartford  and  New  Haven  Railroad  Company  for  their  freight  depot,  in 
tliis  jilace,  but  formerly  the  house  of  worsliip  of  the  First  Congregational 
Church  and  Society,  bear  upon  them  the  marks  of  his  taste,  and  are 
monuments  to  his  memory. 

Though  never  enjoying  advantages  for  more  than  a  conunon  education 
he,  through  self-discipline  and  a  diligent  improvement  of  his  time,  ac- 
quired an  extensive  knowledge  on  many  sul>)ects  beyond  the  range  of  his 
trade,  and  evinced  a  mental  culture  of  no  ordinary  degree. 

He  was  fond  of  antiquarian  researches,  was  a  zealous  student  of  his- 
tory, and  the  results  of  his  research  into  the  early  liistory  of  his  native 
town  are  referred  to  with  jiride  by  his  townsmen.  Probably  there  was 
no  one  who  could  speak  more  definitely,  or  so  d(^finit('ly,  as  he.  On  the 
IGthof  Se23tembcr,  1858,  he  delivered  an  interesting  historical  address  at 
Suffield,  on  occasion  of  the  150th  anniversary  of  the  decease  of  tlie  Rev. 
Benjamin  Ruggles,  first  pastor  of  the  First  Congregational  Church  here. 
This  address,  with  the  proceedings  of  the  day,  has  been  published.  At 
the  time  of  his  decease  he  had  collected,  and  Avas  collecting,  materials 
which  he  intended  to  put  in  permanent  form,  to  be  given  to  the  public. 

He  was  an  honorary  member  of  s(!veral  historical  and  antiquarian  so- 
cieties. In  1854  the  degree  of  A.  M.  was  conferred  upon  liim  by  Amlierst 
College. 

But  lie  was  not  known  alone  by  his  historical  researches,  or  as  a 
builder,  but  by  his  Christian  virtues.  He  here  made  Christ  his  trust;  he 
here  labored  as  Christ's  servant. 


110 

lu  May,  1857,  lie  was  cliosen  deacon  of  the  First  Congregational 
Church,  which  office  he  held  till  his  death,  which  occurred  December 
15th,  1860,  aged  50  years— leaving  to  his  family  the  rich  legacy  of  a 
Christian  husband  and  father,  and  to  his  townsmen  and  friends,  who 
loved  and  resi)ected  him,  the  example  of  a  Christian  man. 

II.  M.  Sykes. 


CONCLUSION. 

By  IIekky  j\I.  Sykks. 

SufficUl  I  tlitTo  is  magic  in  the  word  to  me.  SiifHekl  I  the  home  of  my 
fatliers,  the  place  wlieie  they  died  and  now  rest.  Suffiehl  !  often  liavc  I 
enjoyed  scenes  with  friends  under  thy  peaceful  bowers. 

Doubtless  these  were  the  thoughts  of  many  an  absent  son  and  daughter 
of  Suffield  during  the  summer  of  1870.  Equally  as  true,  also,  it  may  be 
said  of  those  who  still  remained  at  the  "old  homestead."  We  were  all 
led,  in  view  of  the  then  coming  celebration,  to  think  of  ten,  twenty,  fifty 
years  now  past,  and  on  that  day  we  sought  to  bring  before  us  noble 
men  who,  in  the  fear  of  God,  and  in  the  Jiopc  of  the  future,  laid  the 
foundation  of  our  institutions. 

They  have  passed  away.  Their  sons,  who  sat  at  their  feet  and  grew  up 
under  their  intluence,  have  also  passed  away.  There  are  venerable  and 
beloved  men,  faithful  and  true — men  ripe  in  wisdom  as  well  as  years — 
still  with  us;  but  soon  they  will  have  passed  away.  Time  flies  with  the 
wings  of  a  meteor,  and  we  shall  soon  be  called  to  bid  farewell  to  these 
pleasing  scenes,  to  these  mountains,  meadows,  these  groves  and  circling 
rills,  and  shall  sleej)  with  our  fathers. 

Two  hundred  years  ago  !  We  feel  their  influence.  The  hand  of  the 
past  is  shaping  our  thoughts  and  characters.  But  who  shall  say  what 
changes  are  to  be  wrought  in  the  hundred  years  to  come.  We  shall  not 
be  here.  We  shall  be  sleei^ing  with  the  congregation  of  the  dead,  but 
the  silvery  waters  of  the  Connecticut,  upon  whose  banks  our  beautiful 
town  so  prettily  lies,  will  still  roll  on  in  its  quiet  way,  and  the  same  blue 
lieavens  shall  look  down  on  these  fair  and  luxuriant  fields  as  to-day. 

We  shall  not  be  here.  God  grant  that  through  His  grace  we  may  be 
found  in  the  greater  assembly,  which  shall  know  no  change  than  that 
from  glory  to  glory,  joy  to  joy,  forever. 

And  now,  fellow-citizens,  the  day  that  we  for  so  long  a  time  looked  for- 
ward to  with  such  pleasant  anticipations,  has  passed.  It  is  the  first 
Sufiield  ever  witnessed.  It  is  the  last  which  most,  if  not  all  of  us,  will 
be  i)ermitted  to  enjoy.  The  imjiortance  of  it,  and  similar  celebrations, 
can  haidly  be  overrated.  They  tend  to  supply  materials  for  the  general 
history  of  our  countrj- — for  is  not  the  history  of  a  nation  the  collected  re- 
sult of  the  account  of  its  several  component  parts  ?     The  more  minute 


112 

and  graphic  the  story  of  the  incidents  which  compose  them,  the  more 
freshness,  more  fidelity  and  spirit  do  they  breathe  into  its  pages.  What 
is  it  that  gives  our  most  celebrated  historians  so  much  of  fascination  and 
value  ?  It  is  not  so  much  the  brilliant  and  glowing  style  with  which  they 
may  clothe  their  labors,  but  it  is  their  diligent  research  into  ancient  and 
local  records,  and  then  transferred  to  their  own  narrative. 

Historians  are  always  greatly  indebted  to  such  records  as  your  executive 
committee  now  present  to  you  and  the  world.  The  history  of  New  England 
has  been  greatly  enriched  by  just  such  commemorations  as  these.  Towns, 
counties  and  f\imilies,  as  well  as  individuals,  are  employed  in  making  and 
collecting  materials.  History,  it  has  l)cen  said,  is  i)hilosophy  teaching  by 
example.  Our  history  is  more — it  is  Christianity  teaching  by  example — it 
is  high-souled  patriotism — it  is  liberty  teaching  by  example. 

The  history  of  Suflield  has  its  imiiortance  and  its  interest  as  a  portion 
of  New  England.  It  is  connected  with  that  of  the  early  history  of  Mas- 
sachusetts, as  well  as  of  a  little  later  period  tliat  of  the  colony  of  Connecti- 
cut, and  also  with  tlie  history  of  the  war  of  the  Revolution,  by  which  great 
and  grand  struggle  our  independence  was  achieved.  We  believe  that  the 
inha1)itants  have  not  lost  those  patriotic  traits  of  character  which  distin- 
oMiished  tlieir  forefathers.  Some  of  the  old  Puritanic  love  of  religion,  and 
of  religious  liberty,  still  lingers  here.  That  same  love  of  country  still 
flows  through  the  veins  of  the  sons,  as  in  the  fathers,  and  if  ever  they 
should  be  called  again  to  vindicate  the  liberties  left  as  a  sacred  legacy  to 
us,  the  same  courage  and  alacrity  would  stimulate  our  hearts. 

We  hope  that  as  the  citizens  of  the  town  turn  their  eyes  more  intently 
ui)on  history — that  as  they  commune  more  closely  Avith  the  spirit  of  their 
relif'ious  and  heroic  fathers — that  they  will  catch  a  new  and  fresh  in- 
spiration, and  that  they  will  attach  themselves  more  firmly  than  ever  to 
those  institutions  and  elements  of  strength  which  have  given  them  their 
New  England  character  and  prosperity. 

Although  Sutheld  has  not  grown  as  rapidly  as  some  other  towns  in  our 
State,  it  has  improved  Avith  a  steady,  quiet,  and  vigorous  growth,  and  is 
counted  as  one  of  the  considerable  towns  of  the  State.  With  "Onward" 
as  our  motto,  we  shall  grow  to  a  "  larger  estate,"  and  exert  a  greater  in- 
fluence.    Let  us  then,  fellow-citizens,  lift  high  our  motto — "  Onward." 

To  the  stranger  who  may  read  this  book,  let  me  say  a  word. 

The  comparative  merit  of  every  place,  as  one  which  should  be  sought 
or  abandoned,  depends  on  the  views  and  tastes  of  him  who  makes  the 
inquiry.  On  this  point  it  is  not  worth  Avhile  for  an  inhalntant  to  say  any- 
thing, lest  his  advertisement  be  imputed  to  be  vanity  ;  but  may  he  not 
sug<^est,  after  the  history  and  description  of  the  town,  that  if  any  man  be 
influenced  by  the  suggestion  of  religion,  the  love  of  philosophy,  the  love 
of  leisure,  or  the  love  of  agricultural  pursuits,  to  retire  to  a  healthy  resi- 
dence near  and  convenient  to  two  cities,  where  he  may  be  a  calm  specta- 
tor of  the  strifes,  follies,  revolutions,  both  civil  and  religious,  in  the  world, 
he  may  possibly  find  that  Suffield  has  some  recommendations  to  him. 


113 

The  cnij^loyment  of  liusbaiulmon,  the  cultivator  of  his  own  hind,  has  been 
reijrescnted  by  the  poets  and  philosophers  of  all  ages  as  the  most  agreea- 
ble to  the  nature  of  man.  This  sentiment  seemed  to  be  the  motive  of  the 
first  settlers  of  the  town,  and  every  successive  generation  must  have  had 
increasing  proof  that  the  way  and  the  taste  of  their  fathers  was  good  ; 
and  we,  too,  after  having  reviewed  their  doings  and  their  character  in  a 
period  of  two  hundred  years,  give  our  entire  consent  to  the  same  opinion. 


"  Like  the  first  race  of  mortals,  blest  is  he 
From  debts,  and  usury,  and  business  free ; 
With  his  own  team.  Mho  ploughs  the  soil. 
Which  grateful  once  conferred  his  father's  toil." 

As  we  take  leave  of  the  day  whose  scenes  and  doings  we  now  present 
to  you,  we  look  forward  with  hojje,  not  uumingled  with  solicitude,  to  the 
future.  "We  bequeath  to  the  generations  of  the  following  century  a 
precious  inheritance — we  bequeath  to  them  a  soil  devoted  to  God  by 
prayer  and  baptized  into  the  name  of  Liberty  by  Revolutionary  blood, 
and  charge  them  never  to  alienate  from  its  high  and  noble  consecration. 
We  bequeath  to  their  care  the  graves  of  most  -vv'orthy  men.  Cherish  the 
memory  of  their  character,  which  we  hope  you  will  ever  respect  and  copy. 
We  bequeath  to  them  a  religion,  whose  spirit  W' e  pray  that  they  ever  may 
foster;  principles  of  liberty,  which  we  hope  will  ever  fire  an  unquenchable 
ardor  in  their  breasts.  We  bequeath  homes,  which  we  desire  may  con- 
tinue to  be  adorned  with  domestic  virtue  and  the  richest  sources  of  peace. 
We  bequeath  to  them  habits  of  industry,  love  of  order,  attachment  to 
temperance,  privileges,  institutions,  which  we  implore  that  they  may  pre. 
serve  and  perfect  with  the  greatest  care.  We  hope  that  when  the  dawn 
of  the  morning  of  October  12,  1970,  shall  break  upon  this  town,  it  shall 
illuminate  a  religious,  free,  intellig^t,  improved,  prosjjerous,  hajjpy 
people. 

"  In  pleasant  lands  have  fallen  the  lines 
That  bound  our  goodly  heritage. 
And  safe  beneath  our  sheltering  vines 
Our  youth  is  blest,  and  soothed  our  age. 

"  What  thanks,  O  God,  to  Thee  are  due. 

That  Thou  did'st  plant  our  fathers  here  ; 
And  watch  and  guard  them  as  they  grew, 
A  vineyard  to  the  Planter  dear. 

"  The  toils  they  bore,  our  ease  have  wrought ; 
They  sowed  in  tears — in  joy  we  reap  ; 
The  birth-right  they  so  dearly  bought 
We'll  guard  till  we  with  them  shall  sleep." 

13 


